WENDY Davis is on a mission to protect Tamborine Mountain’s abundant wildlife.
“My goal is simple,” she said. “To radically reduce roadkill, embrace and care for our wildlife and restore beauty and harmony to the mountain.”
“I can see how strong this community is and this is what I want to do.”
“It breaks my heart every time I leave my home as I witness fatalities across our mountain’s tree-lined roads that are cutting through rainforest and bush.”
The wildlife activist is planning to start a petition calling for the Scenic Rim Regional Council and Gold Coast Council to reduce speed limits to 50km.
“This is the national speed limit for built-up areas,” she said.
However, she said the wildlife hotspot crossing areas, such as the road between Gallery Walk and Curtis Falls, should be reduced to 40km.
She would also like to see the installation of signs in those hotspot areas, similar to school zones, and painting signage on the roads indicating wildlife zones.
“We need bigger and bolder signage,” Wendy stated.
“It is currently the community doing all the work putting up signs.
“People would see it on the road and slow down; it’s cost effective and it works.”
She hopes to also gather a group of people with expertise in a range of areas who are interested in getting involved as well as local businesses keen to promote the changes.
Wendy said she’d had an overwhelmingly positive response to her plans so far and looks forward to working closely with the community to help put the plans in place.
“My long-term vision is to make the whole of the mountain a wildlife zone,” she stated.
“This would give it protection through council enforcement of speed limits and signage.
“My goal is to reduce roadkill, and I want to try to educate and change attitudes too. Teaching people who think there is nothing they can do and helping people understand what the animal is going through.”
Wendy said a greater initiative might address issues of dogs and cats with wildlife and she hopes it might become a blueprint for other councils and communities to follow.
She also hopes to centralise wildlife rescue on the mountain making it easier for people who need to contact a rescuer.
“No one wants to come up to Tamborine Mountain for a weekend retreat and see dead pademelons and possums,” Wendy said.
