In the latest example of its ongoing commitment to protect endangered and vulnerable native wildlife, the Healesville-Koo Wee Rup Upgrade is transforming logs accumulated during the project into safe hiding spots for the Southern Brown Bandicoot.
The Healesville-Koo Wee Rup Road Upgrade project area is home to a number of endangered native species, including the nationally significant Southern Brown Bandicoot and Growling Grass Frog.
Since planning for this vital upgrade began, the project team has been working hard to protect native wildlife and minimise our impact on significant trees and vegetation.
Under a partnership with DM Ecological to reuse logs accumulated during the project, we are now creating safe and comfortable hiding places for the Southern Brown Bandicoot by carving small hollow passages into logs.
The hollowed logs are then placed around underground culverts and fauna crossings we’ve already built in the project area, with entry and exit points that are suitable for bandicoots, but too small for foxes.
Logs that are not suitable for hollowing will be relocated to nearby frog ponds to create additional sanctuary for the Growling Grass Frog.
In earlier initiatives to protect local wildlife, the project has:
- established no-go environmental zones protecting key habitats during construction
- established frog ponds
- partnered with local men’s shed groups to build 40 special bandicoot shelters that provide refuge from larger animals such as foxes and feral cats
- built more than 40 box culverts and fauna crossings so wildlife can safely cross under the road once it’s completed
- worked with local beekeepers to safely relocate beehives away from locations that would be impacted by construction activity
- built temporary shelters for a range of bat species.
The Healesville-Koo Wee Rup Upgrade is adding an extra lane in each direction, upgrading intersections and installing safety barriers between Princes Freeway and Manks Road.
Once complete, the upgrade will deliver significantly safer driving conditions and lower the risk and severity of crashes.
The Healesville-Koo Wee Rup Road Upgrade is expected to be complete by 2025.