NEWS DESK
‘Virtual fence’ on trial to separate wildlife and traffic By Liz Bell “VIRTUAL fencing” designed to stop wild animals crossing in front of vehicles is about to be trialled along a two-kilometre section of a “hot spot” road in Boneo. Mornington Peninsula Shire has been working with the community, specifically the Mornington Peninsula Wildlife Action Group and Greens Bush Association and has already bought virtual fencing for the trial. The technology uses audio and visual alarms to deter wildlife from crossing the road when vehicles are passing. It is triggered by approaching headlights and creates a virtual barrier of sound and light. Victoria Carter, of the wildlife action group, applauded the shire’s recognition of the depth of the issue of wildlife being killed on the roads. “This is great because the incident rates on the peninsula are way too high, especially in holiday times when traffic increases,” she said. Ms Carter said if the trial was successful, she would like to see virtual fencing rolled out in a number of hot spots on the peninsula. “There are some roadways, such as Baldrey’s, Purves, Browns/Jetty and
Boneo, that have very high incident rates and I’d love to see more action to bring down the number of vehicle/ wildlife accidents there,” she said. The virtual fencing – which is relatively new technology to Australia - has been used in Tasmania, where a study between 2014-2017 showed a 50 per cent drop in roadkill following the installation of the virtual fencing. Peninsula wildlife carer and the founder of Crystal Ocean Wildlife Shelter, Brenda Marmion, hailed the trial as “fantastic”. “There are way too many wildlife getting killed on our roads, and it’s getting worse,” she said. “Over Christmas I’ve had people with injured wildlife queuing at my door, there are a lot of people of the roads at the moment and they just drive too fast. “If virtual fencing can reduce the road toll for wildlife and people it will be well worth it.” The trial fencing location will be made public once residents in the surrounding area are notified and will be installed early in 2022. Its effectiveness will be monitored to determine if it should be installed permanently in high wildlife accident areas.
KATE Freeland stops to discuss the Save Flinders Pier campaign on Boneo Road Rosebud.
Moving plea to save pier FLINDERS Community Association has stepped up its Save Flinders Pier campaign over summer and is towing a mobile promotional trailer through holiday destinations along the Mornington Peninsula. The Save Flinders Pier trailer with the iconic weedy seadragon pictured on the side has already attracted public attention in Rosebud, Rye and Red Hill; with Sorrento and Portsea next on the list. Association spokesperson Charles Reis said the intention of the trailer
was to raise awareness. He said the group is encouraging holiday-makers from other parts of the peninsula to visit the Flinders pier over summer to assess its condition for themselves. “Parks Victoria is too focused on demolishing the historic pier; while most people who visit the pier agree that restoration is the best option,” Mr Reis said. “Few people realise that Flinders has the only pier along the entire southern coastline of the Mornington Peninsula, and its historic and com-
mercial contribution to the peninsula needs to be preserved.” The association is campaigning to convince Parks Victoria that the pier, dating back to 1864, is a community and maritime asset that should be restored for future generations of Victorians. The pier is home to a unique species of the weedy seadragon made famous by Sir David Attenborough and attracts divers from around the world. Liz Bell
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19 January 2022
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