Adelaide Hills

Innovative virtual wildlife fencing, triggered by headlights, installed in Adelaide Hills

Adelaide Hills Council have finished installing virtual wildlife fencing along a 1.4km stretch of Onkaparinga Valley Road.

Thinking outside the box, Adelaide Hills Council have finished installing virtual wildlife fencing along a 1.4km stretch of Onkaparinga Valley Road. The new technology installed between Riverview Road and Mappinga Road in the Oakbank/Woodside area aims to reduce the alarming number of vehicle strikes involving wildlife and domestic animals on this notorious 80 km/h road.

The road is known for its natural beauty, running through picturesque landscapes, vineyards, and rural areas and featuring lush greenery and views of the Onkaparinga River. However, it also poses risks for wildlife, as various animals attempt to cross, leading to vehicle strikes, particularly at night.

Onkaparinga Valley Road is popular among cyclists, hikers, and nature enthusiasts, making it a vital part of the region’s outdoor and recreational appeal. Its blend of scenic charm and community connectivity makes it an important thoroughfare in the area.

So the local council is taking action but you are probably asking yourself, what is virtual fencing?!

The innovative new tech activates when car approaches and their headlights trigger a short, high-pitched sound and flashing lights designed to startle animals, encouraging them to stay clear of the road until the vehicle has passed.

Council says that the area is “known for frequent wildlife crossings, and these new devices are designed to reduce nighttime vehicle strikes”.

Council Open Space staff recently completed the first stage of installations with stage two of the project set to be installed soon along another hazardous section of Greenhill Road. Council plans to closely monitor these trials to evaluate their effectiveness in reducing animal-vehicle collisions over the year.

This project is part of efforts to lower lives lost on our roads and to decrease the number of collisions between cars and kangaroos, which currently make up approximately 90% of all on-road wildlife-related accidents in Australia. 

Volkswagen’s kangaroo-detecting device, RooBadge, uses similar technology. Through the connection to an in-car app, the RooBadge is able to calibrate a vehicle’s GPS coordinates with kangaroo distribution data with a disc, placed over the VW badge, then emits an individual sound alert for the kangaroo species situated in the vehicle’s specific location.

This smart solution not only protects our furry friends but also ensures a safer journey for drivers, and was made possible through a partnership with the animal rescue organisation 1300Koalaz.

1300Koalaz is dedicated to the protection and rehabilitation of local wildlife, particularly koalas as well as providing care for injured or orphaned animals, and working on conservation efforts to support local wildlife populations. The organisation often collaborates with local councils and communities to promote wildlife awareness and to make our roads safer for both wildlife and drivers.

Deputy Mayor Melanie Selwood says, “it’s devastating to see wildlife dying on our roads”.

“We’re committed to the safety of wildlife and road users alike. The partnership with 1300Koalaz is an opportunity to trial a solution that is a win-win for both the community, and local fauna,” she said.

“We’ve seen some great results from other interstate trials of this technology, so we are optimistic of a positive outcome when we review the data at the end of the trial.”

Find out more here.

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