NILLUMBIK: Wildlife road toll affects Nillumbik
Nillumbik Shire residentsattended a hall meeting in Hurstbridge last Monday (Sep. 15) to discuss their concerns about the growing local wildlife road toll and the risks this poses to people.
This follows the tragic deaths of Sarla Khadka and Areeza Suwal who were struck and killed in Craigieburn while assisting an injured kangaroo.
Residents honoured them for their compassion, with candles and a minute’s silence.
“In Nillumbik, kangaroos, wombats, possums and birds are most commonly impacted by drivers, with the vulnerable Brush-tailed Phascogale also becoming victims,” said mel Nelson, President of community group, Roads and Roadside Ecology.
She explained the many issues to the large crowd before they broke off into smaller groups to discuss changes needed from drivers, Nillumbik Council and the State Government to reduce the rising road toll.
Residents expressed concern that wombats may become regionally extinct due to the number being killed on roads. They also expressed dismay at drivers of utes and 4WDs with bull bars who deliberately hit and run wildlife.
Local wildlife rescuer, Leonie Sorrentino, explained that she and her fellow rescuers regularly face dangerous motorist behaviour when helping injured wildlife, even when police are attending.
“That could have been us in Craigieburn,” Ms Sorrentino said.