Biodiveristy_State of Environment report - Mission Beach Cassowaries

2.1.2 Roads andInfrastructurePressureRoads and infrastructure such as powerlinesimpact upon floral biodiversity by creatinggaps in the connectivity of forests and otherecosystems. This creates an edge to theecosystem, which alters themicroenvironment. Consequently, differentspecies are promoted, which alters the ecosystem'scomposition. A greater problem is the incursion of weedsand pest animals along the cleared avenue. Further, in somecases endangered species such as cassowaries may beattracted to road verges because of fruiting weeds, placingthe species at greater risk of being struck by a car.Roads can form a significant barrier to the movement offauna, either because they will avoid the road, or becausecars on the road cause mortality, affecting the species’population. Animals may need to cross the road to feed,establish new territories, to breed, or to migrate as part oftheir lifecycle. Otherwise they may simply encounter roadareas randomly during daily movements.Infrastructure associated with roads can also form a physicalbarrier to some species, particularly where roads bisectstreams. This is the case when stream drainage is divertedthrough pipes emptying above the downstream water level.This can prevent aquatic species from occupying their fullrange.Power line corridors are usually grassed areas where theypass through areas of forest, so that the lines can be accessedfor maintenance. The difference in habitat can affect somespecies, either because they avoid it, or because the openarea makes them more vulnerable to predators.ConditionDetailed information is not collected for the impact of roadson any species except for Cassowaries. C4 and QPWSrecord cassowary road deaths and map these incidents toidentify trouble spots.Some information is available for other species• Through Council clean up of large roadkills – mainlykangaroos and wallabies, but also feral pigs - based onreported dead animals by the public.• Through wildlife care groups who nurse injured animals -when they are reported or brought in.This information will only be a small subjective sample ofactual number of incidents.WTMAThe only changes that have occurred to maintained roads andtheir classification under the Wet Tropics Management Planhave been to forestry roads in the Palmerston WHA in 2003."These changes were associated with the Misty MountainsTrails project which provides a network of short and longdistance walks. Two sections of road were reclassified underthe plan to facilitate access to the walking track networkincluding the reopening of 4km of disused forestry road andthe reclassifying of 4km of management road to presentationrestricted road" (WTMA, 2004).Red legged Pademelons at WildcareSource: WildcareThe impact associated with these changes will be minimal,and will encourage better appreciation and utilisation of theWHA.PowerlinkPowerlink are replacing the deteriorating power linetravelling through the WHA, with a line along the coastthrough mainly agricultural land. An Environment ImpactAssessment (EIA) was conducted, with a balance soughtbetween environmental issues and serious communityconcerns, as well as the difficulty of maintaining a powerline service in the topography of the WHA. The EIA wasreferred to the Federal Department of Environment andHeritage, who have given Powerlink permission toconstruct the power line along the coastal route."Powerlink expects to acquire easements between Tullyand Innisfail by April 2006, with construction expected tocommence in May 2006 (subject to suitable weather).Construction should be completed by the second half of2007" (Powerlink Website, 2005).Revegetation in the WHA will accompany dismantling ofthe old infrastructure. These revegetation plans are yet to bedeveloped through community consultation andinvolvement from WHA stakeholders.Rec: Powerlink develop a strategic approach to ensurecomplete revegetation over time and restoration of WHAnatural values, upon removal of power line infrastructure inthe WHA.ResponseWhere it is noted that a road is affecting significantnumbers of a species or a number of species, managementis required to help prevent the problem. This for examplecould include changing speed limits, or weed control ofroad verges.Mission Beach Wildcare and Wildlife CarersThese organisations tend injured wildlife, and raiseorphaned animals. The majority of their work withmammals is due to collisions with cars, though dog attacksare also a factor.QPWSQPWS currently manage temporary signage, which isplaced where cassowaries are reported to regularly cross aroad. This is more effective than permanent signage, asdrivers gradually come to ignore such signage when theydo not often see a cassowary.37