Shoalhaven Council has installed virtual fencing in Bawley Point to reduce animal and vehicle collisions in the area as part of a 12-month trial.

The trial is located along Murramarang Road, just south of Voyager Cresent. It is 1km long and has fence posts positioned at 25-metre intervals along the roadside, emitting light and sound when a vehicle approaches to deter native wildlife from the road.

Mayor Amanda Findley is optimistic about the trial, anticipating favourable outcomes particularly between dusk and dawn.

“The trial represents a proactive step towards enhancing road safety and safeguarding wildlife at Bawley Point,” Cr Findley said.

“This area is known to have a lot of wildlife fatalities, which puts our motorists at risk of injury,” she said.

“Eurobodalla has already reported astounding results from their trial with a significant reduction in the amount of wildlife strikes.”

Eurobodalla’s trial yielded impressive results, reducing wildlife strikes from five incidents per week to five incidents in eight months. Therefore, we anticipate a substantial decline in roadkill numbers throughout the trial period.

The trial was endorsed by council in 2023/24 as a means to enhance the safety of our road users and protect our valuable local wildlife.

To support the trial’s data collection and identify future hotspots, community members are encouraged to use the iNaturalist App and website to document roadkill incidents, along with contacting Council on 1300 293 111 to remove deceased animals.

Eurobodalla Shire, has worked with Wires and Eurobodalla Coastwatchers on virtual fencing. Coastwatchers suggested the first NSW pilot that was installed at Cullendulla Road Long Beach, resulting in a 90% reduction in road kill in the trial.

Coastwatchers said “The trail was only 1km so will be great if all the 80 km roads than run off the Princes Hwy to the beaches have virtual fencing next to natural areas to protect wildlife. Looking forward to seeing the Bawley Point results.”

Cr Anthony Mayne, speaking to the Roads and Traffic committee Motion in Council on Tuesday, flagged a forthcoming motion on the matter.

Cr Mayne has also briefed SEATS (South East Australian Transport Strategy) meeting and foreshadowed a motion for ALGA gathering of all Councils later this year.

Dr Michael Holland MP also recently presented on this matter in the NSW Parliament.

Cr Mayne called the virtual fences a ‘game changer.’

A Motion to Queanbeyan Palerang Regional Council on February 28 will consider similar wildlife fencing.