In the week Hume City councillors raised concerns about the amount of wildlife being killed and injured on the city’s roads, the results of Sunbury’s annual kangaroo count were released. And it paints a startling picture.
Local Robert Irvine began counting the town’s Eastern Grey Kangaroos in 2016 when he and a team of volunteers spotted 212 in and around the town. This year’s count – which takes in locations such as Burkes Hill, Redstone Hill, and Mount Holden – puts the figure at 561 (up 164%). Mr Irvine says he expects the numbers to increase.
At its meeting on Monday 26 May councillors endorsed a formal submission to the Victorian Legislative Council’s Economy and Infrastructure Committee, calling for coordinated state action to address the growing issue of wildlife roadstrikes – particularly those involving Eastern Grey Kangaroos.
According to the submission, there has been a 68% increase in reported kangaroo collisions over the last five years in Hume, with Sunbury recording the highest number of wildlife strikes in the state in 2023. In June 2024, Sunbury was named a road-kill hot spot by insurer AAMI.
Council states it faces a range of challenges in addressing the issue, including unclear land management responsibilities, fragmented data, rapid urbanisation, and reliance on unfunded volunteer response networks.
Council officers argue that wildlife roadstrike is a systemic issue requiring a coordinated, well-resourced, and state-led response.
Council recommendations include:
- Implementation of the (2018) Living with Wildlife Action Plan, including development of a Victorian Kangaroo Management Strategy
- Designating the Department of Transport as the lead agency for roadstrike mitigation and infrastructure planning
- Mandating integration of wildlife considerations into all planning and road projects
- Legislating accountability for land and road managers
- Investment in centralised data systems, wildlife rescue support, and new mitigation technologies
Council’s report describes its submission as an opportunity to advocate on behalf of the Hume community and contribute to broader state policy on road safety, environmental sustainability, and biodiversity.
The Parliamentary Committee’s inquiry will consider legislation, driver education, rescue services, and technology, with a final report due by November 30, 2025.
