The community is asking Tweed Council to immediately take action. We need our children and wildlife in Koala Beach to be safe crossing our roads.

Koala Beach Estate, in Pottsville is unique in the Tweed and in fact for most of NSW/Australia as a model for a Koala and Wildlife friendly development. The  Estate from onset  was designed and approved with strict condition to protect the flora and fauna and 40klm speed zones have been regulated throughout. A Koala Beach Traffic Plan was implemented at the onset with a range of  guidelines and objectives that would ensure the safety of the community and wildlife.  

By 2021 Koala Beach Estate is practicably full and the  populations and traffic in  the Pottsville surrounds has also significantly increased.  Tom Merchant Drive built apx 2012 now provides a route through Koala Beach from Pottsville road/Coronation Drive, through Seabreeze Estate and access to the Tweed Coast Road. This all has combined to present a very dangerous situation.  The main arterial roads of the Estate have become rat runs for high levels of traffic and the situation now has become very dangerous not only for wildlife  but for small children. This was evidenced recently when a small child was injured by a motor vehicle whilst he was on a pedestrian crossing on Sassafras Street, leaving those who witnessed this and parents furious.

Report of motorists speeding up to 80kph and driving dangerously at roundabouts are common along the connecting through roads of Koala Beach.  The sight of squashed wildlife on these roads has become a regular occurrence and residents are stressed to find families of wildlife they treasure killed on their doorsteps. All this in what is meant to be a wildlife friendly estate where threatened species like the Koala and Bush-stone Curlews are supported and sighted crossing. 

Council now have on hand a roads and traffic report compiled by me pertaining to the high incidents of  Wildlife fatalities on Koala Beach roads. This was tabled at the Koala Beach Wildlife and Habitat Management Committee on the 4th August 2021.  The report includes details of the roads of concern, the communities response to wildlife incidents and wildlife fatality statistics. The case for further traffic speed controls and awareness, including chicanes to be  constructed at strategic points in Koala Beach has been put forward.

The location of the Pottsville Primary School at the entry to Koala Beach and the high number of residents with small children, combines with the vulnerability of wildlife to motor vehicle impacts to create a very concerning situation that deserves Councils immediate attention. 

Irene Timmins