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Wildlife Movement Solutions

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Learn how Wildlife Movement Solutions keep local wildlife safe. Find out why we need them and where they’re located.

Red-necked wallaby in habitat at Brisbane koala bushlands.

What are Wildlife Movement Solutions?

Wildlife Movement Solutions (WMS) are wildlife-friendly infrastructures that help keep our local wildlife safe. They are installed where roads intersect with ecological corridors. 

Why do we need them?

Wildlife species need interconnected habitats to thrive. 

Roads, highways and urban development make it difficult for wildlife to find food, mates and suitable places to live.  

WMS help keep our wildlife safe from road traffic and provide safer paths for their journey.

Looking for something else

Land for Wildlife program

Bushcare volunteer groups

Koala conservation

Types of Wildlife Movement Solutions 

Wildlife crossing infrastructure 

Wildlife signs and road pavement markings are used as a form of WMS that encourage drivers to slow down.

Other types of infrastructure include:

  • fauna exclusion fencing 
  • culvert underpasses 
  • land bridge overpasses 
  • koala refuge and glider poles 
  • rope bridges. 

Variable message signs 

Variable message signs (VMS) are electronic road signs that show temporary messages to motorists.

Each year during the peak of koala breeding season, we roll out VMS to prevent koala vehicle strikes. Koala breeding season is from August to October each year.

These signs help encourage drivers to be extra vigilant and keeps koalas safe. 

We review the sign locations annually based on up-to-date data and rotate them every 2 to 3 weeks.  

Kangaroo jump-outs and koala climb-outs 

Jump-outs and climb-outs provide escape routes for wildlife trapped on roads.

You will be able to find a kangaroo jump-out on Bracken Ridge Road, Bracken Ridge and there are koala climb-outs on Boundary Road, Camp Hill.

These installations prevent:

  • kangaroos from being stuck on the wrong side of a wildlife exclusion fence
  • koalas from becoming trapped due to steep road embankments.

Major Wildlife Movement Solution zones

To ensure safe wildlife movement throughout Brisbane, we have adopted a zone-based approach to guide investments for new WMS.

To determine zones, we consider:

  • important road crossing points for wildlife, particularly near or next to bushland and creeks (where there is a high occurrence of wildlife/vehicle strikes)
  • roads that may form barriers for wildlife movement through ecological corridors
  • areas with high traffic volume and/or vehicle speed and high biodiversity value
  • at-risk or vulnerable species such as the koala and kangaroo.

The Belmont Hills and Whites Hill reserves are known for their high koala and macropod activity. 

Located between 2 reserves, these zones include roads immediately surrounding the reserves, as well as roads around notable movement corridors (e.g. creek lines).

WMS infrastructure includes: 

  • road pavement treatments and new signage

  • a constructed wildlife 'shelf' under Pine Mountain Road 

  • revegetation and weeding work to create additional wildlife habitat and to help guide wildlife to safe crossing points

  • koala habitat street trees and park habitat plantings

  • additional road markings, as well as static and LED signage (including VMS)

  • koala climb-outs.

This zone is part of our commitment to conserve biodiversity and reconnect ecological corridors. It allows safe movement of local wildlife through and between habitat areas.

The Australian Government fully funded the installation of the overhead log bridge through the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program.

WMS infrastructure includes: 

  • wildlife zone road markings and signage near Whites Hill Reserve

  • an overhead log bridge which is the first of its kind in Australia

  • wildlife fencing to create a safe crossing point for koalas.

Bracken Ridge Road, between Deagon Wetlands and Sandgate Third Lagoon, has become a hotspot for eastern grey kangaroo vehicle strikes.

WMS infrastructure includes:

  • road pavement markings identifying this stretch of road as a Wildlife Zone

  • a reduced speed limit 

  • LED speed-activated signage

  • static signage

  • fauna exclusion fencing

  • a kangaroo jump-out. 

The Chermside Hills zone is known for its abundant koala and macropod activity. It encompasses roads around:

  • Chermside Hills Reserve

  • Milne Hill Reserve

  • Hamilton Road Quarry Park 

  • Raven Street Park

  • Grey Gum Park.

WMS infrastructure includes:

  • road markings, static and LED signage, VMS 

  • wildlife exclusion fencing

  • weed treatment and bank work on Beckett Road to improve under bridge accessibility for wildlife

  • 4 koala escape poles on Beckett Road

  • various 'care for our wildlife' static signs in suburban streets to increase residents' awareness of wildlife activity in their neighbourhood. 

This zone experiences high koala activity, vehicle speed and traffic volume which has resulted in a serious threat to the local koala population. This area includes Tilley Road, which is part of a koala habitat found within Burbank, Chandler and Belmont.

WMS infrastructure includes:

  • road pavement markings

  • LED speed-variation wildlife warning signs 

  • static wildlife signs. 

This WMS aims to reduce the high occurrence of vehicle strikes with eastern grey kangaroos.  

Monitoring has shown a significant decrease in the number of kangaroo vehicle strikes since its installation.

WMS Infrastructure includes:

  • Wolston Bridge being raised to allow kangaroos and wallabies to safely move under the road 

  • exclusion fencing and LED speed-activated signage.

Compton Road wildlife crossing site

In 2004, Compton Road was upgraded from 2 to 4 lanes. The Compton Road wildlife crossing is Brisbane’s most significant WMS site. 

The most notable section of the WMS is the land bridge along Compton Road. This bridge links Karawatha Forest Park on the southern side of Compton Road to an area on the northern side known as Kuraby Bushlands.

As part of the road upgrade design, a variety of wildlife-friendly crossing infrastructure was incorporated to mitigate impacts to local wildlife.

WMS infrastructure includes:

  • 8 glider poles
  • 3 rope ladders
  • fauna-friendly culverts
  • exclusion fencing
  • escape poles.

Research conducted by Griffith University, Queensland Museum and Southern Cross University as part of Council's Biodiversity Research Partnership Program has demonstrated that:

  • a variety of wildlife is using the land bridge and other structures to move between the 2 areas of bushland
  • investing in WMS is invaluable and shows Council is well on its way to achieving its aim of protecting biodiversity by reconnecting ecological corridors.

How you can help

Do your part by slowing down in signed areas and being vigilant on our roads. Call RSPCA Native Animal Ambulance on 1300ANIMAL (1300 264 625) if you see:

  • a sick, injured or orphaned animal
  • wildlife in imminent threat (on the road or on a median strip). 

You can report deceased animals on local roads in Brisbane to Council’s 24-hour Contact Centre on 07 3403 8888.

To keep your local wildlife safe:

Frequently asked questions

Other locations in Brisbane that have Wildlife Movement Solutions are:

  • Blunder Road - glider poles
  • Gap Creek Road - wildlife underpasses
  • Hamilton Road - land bridge, glider poles and rope ladders
  • Paradise Road - glider poles and rope ladder
  • Scrub Road - glider poles and rope ladder
  • Telegraph Road - glider poles and rope ladder
  • Trinity Way - glider poles
  • Wolston Road - wildlife underpasses and exclusion fencing.

We will continue to monitor and deliver future Wildlife Movement Solutions in identified wildlife zones and at other key locations across the city.  

As more data becomes available, new zones may be identified and prioritised accordingly. 

To report sick, injured and/or orphaned wildlife, call RSPCA on 1300 ANIMAL (1300 264 625) and ask for help from the animal ambulance.

You can report deceased animals on Brisbane local roads by calling Council’s 24-hour Contact Centre on 07 3403 8888.