Council has recently installed two Vehicle Actuated Kangaroo Warning signs on Sippy Downs Drive in response to concerns raised by the University of the Sunshine Coast and wider community about the kangaroo mortality rate in the area.
The signs, which are an Australian first, have been installed at the locations shown in red circles on the attached plan. The signs have been tested and are operating as specified.
Council’s Graduate Engineer Alex managed the research, design and delivery of the signs and did a fantastic job. J1 LED was the successful tenderer and they worked closely with Alex to deliver the works.
These signs will work in partnership with the recently installed Kangaroo warning posts that emit both light and sound to keep Kangaroos away from our local roads in the precinct.
Kind regards,
Christian
Author Profile
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Christian is the Division 6 Councillor for the Sunshine Coast Council.
Christian was elected at the age of 19 years old in October 2006. In 2008 Christian was re-elected as the local councillor for Division 6 as part of the amalgamated Sunshine Coast Regional Council.
In the 2012 local election Christian was elected unopposed, something that was unexpected and very humbling.
Having been re-elected in 2016 he feels that he has a strong mandate to work hard for the community whilst continuing to deliver important projects in Division 6.
Christian feels “blessed” having the opportunity to live on the Sunshine Coast and having the opportunity to work with local resident's to improve lived experiences in our region.
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And I’m not allowed to walk my dog on a lead through the University grounds because I’m scaring the wildlife !!
Kangaroos are a rare sight these days at Sippy Downs ?
wondering if the camera above the sign in front of the Uni is also a speed camera? but then the ‘wonderful’ kangaroo warning seems to come on randomly anyways, with no kangas in sight, not that I’ve ever seen a kanga in that particular area for the year I’ve lived here… but that doesn’t seem to matter much… at least it’s a ‘national first’ and this council gets mentioned for pretending they care about the nature they are rapidly eradicating by approving too much development….. but hey, the kangaroos get 2 warning signs….. YAY!!!!!!! LOL….. I hope the kangas take note that traffic has been told with flash lights that cost the ratepayers way too much, in two very random areas that there could be kangaroos in the area…….
Stop overdeveloping and regenerate the natural environment . It grieves me to witness what is happening in the area around the sunshine coast uni. There used to be many many roo’s there but not so many now, just an evolving urban jungle of concrete and roads.
Cut every tree down in the area then put apartment blocks called ‘Habitat’. I’m sure the Kangaroos are greatful for the sign ☹️
Just out of interest Cr Christian Dickson how much did it cost to purchase and erect this sign
USC Roo Conservation Conservation program
http://www.usc.edu.au/research-and-innovation/animal-and-marine-ecology/seq-eastern-grey-kangaroo-conservation-project
Have driven in that road everyday for 10 years and never seen a kangaroo near the road. Another gimmick
Hahah yes that’s awesome, develop every scrap of land around and stick a sign in the middle.
It’s like they are blaming the traffic that council is forcing into the area for killing kangaroos, but they don’t see that approving all the stupid, ugly, polluting apartments while erasing the forest, greenery and natural habitat, that most people moved here for, is actually the cause for the demise of so much flora and fauna in the area…. typical councils who only see $$$$$ before they see the big picture
Put the money into our rural roads that always get left behind. There are plenty of roads that are still gravel roads.
Is that so we can all remember they used to be there ?
Waste of time & money haven’t see a kangaroo in the area for months……
Waste of money not many left
“SLOW DOWN”…..because Kangaroos used to live here!
How clever, but who will teach them to read?
20 yrs too late sadly.
It’s a shame that some drivers are ignoring them. Had one guy in a white 4×4 nearly take me out near the high school in his mad rush off the motorway.
It’s a great concept but the sign s won’t have to work hard as we have already lost most of the Roos due to construction and clearing of land. I am afraid it’s too little too late. I wish council would have had more foresight in the beginning. Probably time to take the sign down at the entrance on the roundabout depicting kangaroos and being the knowledge precinct
Gaye Ford If you think that there are no kangaroos left youre extremely misinformed. Kangaroos breed extremely quickly and the university has had Australia Zoo culling them for years to keep population in check.
Gaye Ford show me the proof , I have lived in Sippy for 16yrs now and never seen or heard of a cull and I Am pretty sure Australia Zoo would not want the public knowing that they kill roos
I didn’t say there are none left. There has been a rapid decline in the area from the land clearing. I know as have lived in Sippy Downs drive and we used to have many mobs in our back yard, not any more. And nothing to do with the culling at the university which I must admit I wasn’t aware of
Graham Li first I have heard of it. It was only recently the university was worried about the decline in the population. It is a big draw card for their Japanese students
Graham Li it wasn’t me who said there was culling.
Graham Li Gaye Ford They cull the kangaroos for population control. Having too many kangaroos = not enough food. When they have nothing to eat they starve. Give the roos a few months to breed and theyll be everywhere again.
For a long time we’ve been lucky enough to share our Sunshine Coast campus with some pretty special marsupials. And in that time these furry friends have become very important to the USC community.
It’s no secret we’ve all witnessed kangaroo numbers sadly decline on campus in recent years, so we wanted to let you know about a new project underway that we’re very passionate about.
A virtual fence has been set up along campus that we’re hoping will contribute to less kangaroos being killed on the Sunshine Coast.
It’s an acoustic fence that emits noise and lights, designed to make the roos stop and think twice before darting across the road into oncoming cars. And it correspondingly alerts drivers to slow down when animals are approaching.
While no one can control the movement patterns of these wild animals initial results from the fence are promising. So we look forward to working with the Sunshine Coast Council further on the project.
And you can get involved, we’re asking the community to help us monitor the fence by reporting all kangaroo sightings along Sippy Downs Drive to USC Lecturer in Wildlife Ecology, Dr Scott Burnett at sburnett@usc.edu.au
This post was copied from the university page. There is no way they would have been culling them
Gaye Ford ok? Wait till early Feburary and take a walk through the university and theyll be everywhere. Also reguarding the fence comment those fences are there for us, have you ever hit a kangaroo with your car or had one jump into it? It totals your car (unless youve got bullbars). Also also they wouldnt be advertising that they cull kangaroos because alot of people are soft and would cry about it, especially the first year uni students who think their opinions matter
The fence idea is great. But I would like to see proof of culling considering the university was worried about their decline
Bryan Green ?
Bryan Green there is no particular month that Roos give birth. So are you suggesting the signs will work or have they stopped the supposed culling.
Gaye Ford if your so concerned about thier habitat being lost you could always bulldoze your house to the ground and return it to the bush land it once was.
Bryan Green http://www.usc.edu.au/research-and-innovation/animal-and-marine-ecology/seq-eastern-grey-kangaroo-conservation-project
There are none left because of Councils planning unrestrictions
So. Let me get this right. There are kangaroo deterrent poles that emit sound and light to scare off the roos. BUT we have to also ‘slow down’……
Martin Worth obviously its precautionary. No brainer really
Jake Watson peltzman effect. It’s a big deal
Ooh. So that’s what those noisy blue things are. ??♀️
I wondered the same.
Rachel Dunlop I thought they were counting cars for the roadworks. ?
I thought they were to deter cyclist on the path ??♀️??♀️
Oh how thoughtful…… I mean since we are demolishing where they live quicker than they can relocate!