VANESSA HALL
EDITOR
NEARBY residents and community groups have been watching on in disbelief as kangaroos have been struggling to cross David Low Way (DLW) due to land clearing at the Dennis Family Corporation development at Yaroomba Beach known as ‘Beachside’.
Up until recently the kangaroo population which lived on the Beachside site were able to come and go as they pleased and move around on the large site which was previously owned by Sekisui.
With site works starting earlier this year a large fence has been installed around the site and the kangaroos are making the often-fatal dash across the busy DLW in an effort to find new habitat.
Across the road from Beachside is the Palmer Coolum Resort and underneath DLW is an underpass – previously used by golf carts to access greens when the course occupied both sides of DLW.
Community groups are asking the Palmer Resort to open the gate to the underpass in order to allow the kangaroos safe passage.
A petition calling on this has been spearheaded by local resident and Division 8 Councillor Taylor Bunnag.
“In June, I reached out to Palmer Resort Management and requested that the underpass gate be opened to provide safe passage for our wildlife underneath the DLW.
“Palmer Resort Management did not agree and as a result, I started a petition which has now gained more than 1500 signatures from community members.”
Cr Bunnag said Council was doing as much as they could to help the kangaroos.
“Council is continuing to investigate all avenues for the opening of the underpass, with or without the agreement of Palmer Resort Management.
“As a Yaroomba resident, it’s been deeply upsetting to see kangaroo deaths occurring in our community.
“The key issue is getting the underpass open to give these kangaroos a chance.”
A spokesperson for the Dennis Family Corporation said they were working in accordance with their development application requirements.
“The Yaroomba Beach site has been fully fenced since February and we are meeting all Council conditions associated with our approval.
“The fencing of the Yaroomba Beach site is not obstructing the underpass and Dennis Family Corporation supports it being reopened and we are careful to ensure both public and fauna safety as we work to deliver our Yaroomba Beach project.”
Those Council requirements included a detailed Fauna Management Plan (FMP) as well as a spotter and random visits by Council’s biodiversity officer, Cr Bunnag stated.
“The FMP details the steps to protect fauna species (including macropods) during any development activity undertaken on the subject land.
“The applicant undertook localised preclearance fauna reporting, which included six weeks of macropod surveying conducted on the site to determine the movement and feeding patterns of the mob of Eastern Grey Kangaroos that utilise the site’.
Palmer Resort Management has made no attempt to accommodate the requests to open the underpass to the dismay of locals, with one nearby resident stating it was distressing seeing the population dwindling.
These sentiments are backed up by Coolum and North Shore Coast Care President Leigh Warneminde.
“The kangaroos are suffering with the fences everywhere.
“They used to be able to move around easily and they are being squeezed out.
“If the gate underneath is opened they can get out and move about more freely and this is something that needs to be addressed and people need to start factoring in wildlife crossings.”
A Coast Care volunteer who took the photos accompanying this story said she has been saddened by what is taking place.
“I took this photo on Friday after watching this poor guy bounding across the afternoon rush hour traffic, appearing confused and exhausted on the DLW.
“The poor kangaroo – I think it was trying to get to the Palmer Resort from the Beachside development but obviously was met with fences on either side of the road.”
Palmer Coolum Resort Management was repeatedly contacted by the Advertiser for comment; however, no reply was ever received.
Further information on Council’s Macropod Conservation Plan can be found on Council’s website at - https://www.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au/environment/native-animals/macropods