Spring can be a challenging time of year for native wildlife as they adapt to the changing environment and enter the breeding season.
Manningham is home to a diverse array of native wildlife, now emerging from their winter hideouts.
To help protect its suburban native fauna, Manningham Council has installed eight new canopy bridges as part of upgrade works along Jumping Creek Road, Wonga Park and Brysons Road, Warrandyte South. They will provide safer arboreal pathways for native wildlife to move around local habitats.
Manningham Mayor, Cr Deirdre Diamante, said that many local native animals were more active around roads during the breeding season, increasing risk of injury.
“These canopy bridges encourage our native fauna to make safer road crossings, by connecting suitable habitat on both sides of roads,” she said.
“On the first night, wildlife cameras captured a Brush-tailed Phascogale using one of the new canopy bridges. This was a great outcome, demonstrating that they will provide successful pathways and protect our native fauna, now and into the future.
“We also ask people to slow down on our roads, especially at dawn and dusk when our wildlife is most active,” Cr Diamante added.
This initiative supports Manningham Council’s commitment to preserving and strengthening local biodiversity and bushland as stated in its Climate Emergency Response Plan.
