Use of fauna road-crossing structures in north-eastern New South Wales

Published source details Hayes I. & Goldingay R.L. (2009) Use of fauna road-crossing structures in north-eastern New South Wales. Australian Mammalogy, 31, 89-95.
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This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

	Action	Category
	Install overpasses over roads/railways Action Link
	Install barrier fencing and underpasses along roads Action Link

Install overpasses over roads/railways

A site comparison study in 2006 along a highway in New South Wales, Australia (Hayes & Goldingay 2009) found that two wildlife overpasses were used by mammals and presence of crossing-structures along with roadside fencing reduced road-kills. There were fewer road-kills over seven weeks along the section with crossing-structures (0.02/km) than along a section without crossings (0.07/km). The most frequently recorded road casualties along both sections combined were bandicoots (16 casualties) and kangaroo and wallabies (nine casualties). Kangaroos and wallabies used the two overpasses more than they used two underpasses (104 vs 36 tracks). However, the overpasses were used less than were underpasses by bandicoots (28 vs 87) and rodents (15 vs 82). Use was similar for possums (overpasses: 9; underpasses: 14). There were two wildlife bridges (9–37 m wide, with vegetation) and two concrete box culverts (3 × 3 m, 42–63 m long), with 5 km of exclusion fencing, along a 12-km section of dual-carriageway highway. Tracks were monitored on sand plots across each crossing. Road-kill surveys were conducted along the 12-km section and along a 51-km two-lane section without crossings or fencing. Track and road-kill surveys were conducted up to three times/week over seven weeks in August–September 2006.

(Summarised by: Rebecca K. Smith)
Install barrier fencing and underpasses along roads

A site comparison study in 2006 along a Highway in New South Wales, Australia (Hayes & Goldingay 2009) found that two underpasses were used by mammals and that presence of crossing-structures along with barrier fencing reduced road-kills. There were fewer road-kills over seven weeks along the section with crossing-structures (0.02/km of survey) than along a section without crossings (0.09/km of survey). The most frequently recorded road casualties were bandicoots (16 casualties) and kangaroos and wallabies (nine casualties). Bandicoots used the two underpasses more than they used the two overpasses (87 vs 28 tracks) as did rodents (82 vs 15). Kangaroos and wallabies used underpasses less than they used overpasses (36 vs 104 tracks). Use was similar between structure types for possums (14 vs 9). There were two concrete box culverts (3 × 3 m, 42–63 m long) and two wildlife bridges (9–37 m wide, with vegetation) with 5 km of exclusion fencing, along a 12-km section of dual-carriageway highway. Tracks were monitored on sand plots across each crossing. Road-kill surveys were conducted along the 12-km section and along a 51-km two-lane section without crossings or fencing. Track and road-kill surveys were conducted up to three times/week over seven weeks in August–September 2006.

(Summarised by: Rebecca K. Smith)