Annual Report 2006 (main body) - RTA - NSW Government

TABLE 10
BIODIVERSITY PROJECTS
ACTIVITY PURPOSE PROGRESS 2005–06
Promoting RTA measures used Management of The RTA gave a presentation at the Australian Government Department
to minimise road impacts on native wildlife on roads of Environment and Heritage workshop on the identification and mitigation
biodiversity of the impacts of roads on biodiversity in Canberra, May 2006.
The RTA attended a community forum at Narrabeen in June 2006 to discuss
the RTA approach to roadkill mitigation on roads in northern Sydney.
The RTA presented on Pacific Highway threatened flora translocation
experience at the Australian Network for Plant Conservation Vegetation
Management Workshop in August 2005.
Development of a call centre Management of The RTA funded the develpment of a draft manual by the RSPCA for
resource manual for managing wildlife on roads call centre staff to more effectively manage calls from motorists regarding
roadkill response
injured animals on roads.
Trialling effectiveness Management of A three year post graduate research study trialling the effectiveness
of odour repellents wildlife on roads of odour repellents in managing vehicle collisions with wildlife was
completed in October 2005. One of the products trialled provided
promising results.
Trialling effectiveness of Management of The RTA provided $25,639 to monitor the effectiveness of an
fauna mitigation measures wildlife on roads experimental possum rope bridge over Wakehurst Parkway, Sydney.
Trialling effectiveness of Minimising impacts The RTA contributed $10,000 to monitor the effectiveness of bat
fauna mitigation measures to biodiversity breeding and roosting boxes installed under the Prince Alfred Bridge
at Gundagai.
Fund research into effects of Koala population Research for the koala monitoring project undertaken by RTA
road construction and operation research recommenced on Bonville following four years of preconstruction
on koala populations adjacent monitoring. Expected expenditure in 2005–06 is $40,000.
to the Pacific Highway at Bonville
Research into the factors The effect of bridges RTA contributed $162,634 to investigate the factors limiting the growth
limiting the growth of plants on vegetation growth of plants under road bridges and the associated impacts of this lack of
under road bridges and invertebrates vegetation on invertebrates.
Research into post construction The effect of bridges on The RTA is involved in partnership with university research.
and operational impacts of bridges estuarine environments
on estuarine environments
Pilot project on utilising RTA road environment Conservation Volunteers Australia weeded and planted two rest
volunteers on RTA works corridors areas in addition to a major planting on the Hume Highway along
the Mittagong Bypass.The pilot program is being used to test the
feasibility of using volunteers on RTA projects for greening
environment corridors.
50 POSITIVE ENVIRONMENTAL AND URBAN DESIGN OUTCOMES