Koala fatalities from vehicle collisions have nearly doubled in a rapidly growing development zone in south-western Sydney, prompting conservationists to urge the New South Wales government to strengthen protections for the endangered species in new housing areas.
In a letter to Premier Chris Minns and senior ministers, signed by over 20 environmental and community groups, the Sydney Basin Koala Network accused the government of prioritizing development over wildlife protection, which it claims is accelerating the koala population’s decline. The letter highlights alarming data showing koala road deaths on Appin Road—connecting Campbelltown, the western suburbs of Sydney, and Wollongong—rose from 11 in 2022 to 19 in 2024, based on government BioNet database figures. This spike coincides with the commencement of large-scale housing projects in Gilead and Appin.
As part of the state’s efforts to address housing affordability, approximately 70,000 new homes are planned for the region in the coming decades. However, the area also supports some of Sydney’s healthiest koala populations, and environmental advocates are calling on the government to ensure the most vital habitats are safeguarded.
Since 2021, at least 207 koalas have been killed by vehicles across south-western Sydney, according to the groups’ analysis. They are urging the government to protect and restore vital koala habitat corridors, build five underpasses on Appin Road, and amend the state’s planning laws to require councils to preserve koala habitats from development.
Stephanie Carrick, project manager for the Sydney Basin Koala Network, emphasized, “We’re not against housing development. Koalas are also facing a housing crisis, and we need to protect their homes by safeguarding important migratory corridors and enabling safe movement across the landscape.”
Jeff Angel, director of the Total Environment Centre, pointed out that the destruction of koala habitats by developers is forcing the animals to flee, only to be killed on the roads. “People are rescuing koalas or finding them dead on the road,” he said.
The letter to the government also highlights the worrying rise in deaths of female koalas and joeys, stressing that the road fatalities are having a severe impact on this important, chlamydia-free population. “They cannot sustain this level of decline over time,” the letter warns.
Carrick urged the Minns government to follow through on its promises to improve koala protection, noting that the species was on track for extinction in New South Wales by 2050, according to a 2020 parliamentary inquiry.
While housing development has already begun along Appin Road, Carrick noted that the planned underpass for koalas at Gilead has yet to be constructed, despite its critical role in helping koalas safely cross the road. Two additional underpasses are also proposed for other areas of Appin Road. The network is advocating for five underpasses, including one at Mallaty Creek, a crucial habitat corridor that the government has proposed fencing off to keep koalas out.
Saul Deane from Save Sydney’s Koalas criticized the plan to block koalas from Mallaty Creek, calling it “inexplicable.” He and other environmental groups are pushing to preserve this area as it provides a vital link between the Georges and Nepean Rivers.
A spokesperson for Transport for NSW acknowledged the growing issue of koala road deaths on Appin Road, stating that the agency is exploring options to improve driver awareness and change driver behavior, including the installation of enhanced signage and road markings. The agency is also addressing the issue through three projects that will install continuous koala exclusion fencing between Rosemeadow and Appin township, along with three koala underpasses at Noorumba Reserve, Beulah Biobank site, and Ousedale Creek.
Two additional safety projects around Mount Gilead are still in the planning phase, with construction expected to begin next year.