Cassowary Road Treatment Trial

John BreenPrincipal EngineerFar North Region

• Cassowary conservation is a whole of community issue

• TMR can provide infrastructure to reduce speed on state controlled roads

• TMR can also influence driver behaviour

• Community, local government and others can lead community change

Community Engagement Process

• Internal workshop DTMR non technical staff - January 2010

• Community workshop Mission Beach – 18 February 2010

• Community Cabinet – 28 February 2010

• Road Treatment Solution Trial – May 2010 to May 2011

Minister announces $50,000

Issue Responsibility DTMR possible action

Reduce speed TMR CCRC DTMR will consider the reduction of speed in locations that are suitable eg. Where 60km zone meets 80km zone, reduce to 60km.

Changing horizontal alignment(i.e. windy road alignment)

TMR CCRC Road corridor already exists and being used, road alignments will not be changed unless major upgrades are occurring, these are not planned in the Mission Beach area

Traffic calming eg. Roundabouts, speed bumps (plastic)

TMR CCRC Roundabouts will be considered in conjunction with future subdivisions along the Tully – Mission Beach Road. Speed bumps are not preferred on State-controlled roads because of traffic demand and safety concerns.

Encroaching vegetation & better visibility

TMR CCRC DTMR is responsible for the maintenance and enhancement of state controlled road corridors, it sets the standards for roadside vegetation, safety is first priority. Cassowary community must agree on vegetation treatment and then lobby for any changes to policy

Permanent variable message signs eg. Speed notification signs

TMR CCRC Permanent variable message signs are not preferred – refer to DTMR policy

Associated lines and signs TMR CCRC DTMR policy

Put “Endangered” on signs TMR CCRC DTMR checking availability and wording of approved signage

Brighter signs (lighted), solar power

TMR CCRC Possible to implement subject to effectiveness and funding availability

Mission Beach declared a high ecological area, to enable particular measures to be put in place

TMR CCRC State controlled roads within the Mission Beach area are not classified as significant environmental area under the policy. This is not possible from DTMR perspective.Consideration could be given by CCRC or Federal government to change planning delegations

Issue Responsibility DTMR possible action

When there is an upgrade, use a bridge

TMR CCRC DTMR does not have budgets to remove roads and rebuild with elevated roadways

Temporary slow zone that is portable& involves compliance camera,chicanes, signs, paint lines on roadseg vms & Moveable speed reductionTreatments

TMR CCRC DTMR funding does not allow for costs involved in staffing and relocating road treatments. DTMR considers that it is more effective to reduce the speed environment on a permanent basis rather than temporarily.

Koala Options, Redlands Shire – redand green reflectors on side of road –red means 60km, green means 80km

TMR CCRC DTMR will research best practice treatments used in other areas for the conservation of animals to ensure a consistent approach

Connectivity corridorsFewer cassowary deaths on straight stretches of road where visibility is good

TMR CCRC DTMR is responsible for the maintenance and enhancement of state controlled road corridors, it sets the standards for roadside vegetation, safety is first priority. Cassowary community must agree on vegetation treatment and then lobby for any changes to policy

Better visibility and static speedcamera with tall trees to narrow road

TMR CCRC QPS DTMR is responsible for the maintenance and enhancement of state controlled road corridors, it sets the standards for roadside vegetation, safety is first priority. Cassowary community must agree on vegetation treatment and then lobby for any changes to policy

Issue Responsibility DTMR possible action

Too many signs – car vs cassowary, caution signs, cassowary conservation area – cause confusion

TMR CCRC DTMR will undertake a signage audit on state-controlled roads. CCRC will be encouraged to do the same on the local road network.

Colour on side of road TMR CCRC DTMR has applied for additional funding to install colour on the road shoulders

Sign explaining the colour and if a cassowary has died on this stretch of road

TMR CCRC This could be done at a cassowary information pull over bay should funding be available

Consistent driving signage – more environmental message and constant speed

TMR CCRC DTMR will undertake a signage audit on state-controlled roads. CCRC will be encouraged to do the same on the local road network

Consistency with road/development standards across jurisdictions

TMR CCRC DTMR Far North Region has recently overtaken the Mission Beach area from Northern Region.

Issue Responsibility DTMR possible action

Speed limit reduction, 60km whole way

TMR CCRC DTMR will consider the reduction of speed in locations that are suitable eg. Where 60km zone meets 80km zone, reduce to 60km.

Speed cameras moved around, set locations, regulatory

QPS

Public education- rarity of cassowary- research target audience to

appropriately address driver behaviour

COMMUNITY - C4, MBCAQPWS

Fines for speeding (regulation) QPS

Promoting reporting phone number to QPWS & TMR (public education)

COMMUNITY - C4 MBCA

Cassowary report daily/weekly on radio

COMMUNITY - C4 MBCA

Council to impose levy on developers to fund measures

CCRC

Council to put conditions on developers to consider cassowaries

CCRC

Issue Responsibility DTMR possible action

Public pictures of squashed cassowaries for shock value

COMMUNITY – C4 MBCA

Les Moore has peak times of cassowary movements and activities

NOTE

Cassowary fatalities not always associated with vegetation corridors, may be counter productive

NOTE

“Cassowary Conservation Area” – signage misleading –

NOTE

Driver education of locals – tourists drive slower, unfamiliar with roads

COMMUNITY – C4 MBCA

Speed camera that measures speed over distance or 1 camera and 6 locations, move the camera spasmodically

QPS

Issue Responsibility DTMR possible action

Tourists don’t know the cassowary is so large, many think it is the scrub hen

COMMUNITY – C4, MBCA

Signage at El Arish turnoff – cassowary and human to show relative size

COMMUNITY - CCRC, WTMA

DTMR Approval agency only

Data collection of different SA doesn’t mesh – DTMR road related, QPWS bird related

NOTE QPWS

Speed cameras QPS No responsibility

Signage – show as a big bird CCRC DTMR Approval agency only

Signage – at the beginning of the area

CCRC DTMR Approval agency only

Signage - proportion CCRC DTMR Approval agency only

Public education to go with any other measures

COMMUNITY – C4, MBCA

Trial Feedback

Department of Transport and Main Roads

PO Box 6185

Cairns Qld 4870

Email: cairns.office@tmr.qld.gov.au

Phone: Dalitta Wright 4040 6339