Koala Protection on Heathcote Road around Deadmans Creek

View the August 2025 notification (PDF, 772.76 KB) for detailed information.

Koala Protection on Heathcote Road near Deadmans Creek, has now been approved and construction will soon commence. This follows consultation late last year with the community and other stakeholders on potential environmental impacts and our strategy to mitigate impacts. 
During consultation, 95 submissions were received from the community and other stakeholders. To view submissions received and our response to the feedback, view the Submissions Report at the bottom of this page. The contract for construction of the project has been awarded to Mack Civil. Work will commence in July 2025. For further information, view the July project notification (PDF, 311 KB). 

Consultation Outcomes

We have considered all feedback received and made some key design changes to the project after consulting with you on the REF.

These changes include:

• adjustment of the fence alignment to the north and south of St George Crescent to reduce vegetation clearing and improve visibility
• installation of additional fauna access pipes in the Defence fencing
• additional wooden crossing structures underneath Deadmans Creek Bridge.

Please see the map below for further detail on the existing and planned protection measures.

Following consideration of your feedback and key changes to the design, the project is now approved. 

_{Map of work area}

Transport for NSW thanks those who provided feedback during the consultation stage. The consultation is now closed and a submissions report is being prepared. The report will be released in the first quarter of 2025. 

Key features of the proposal include: 

• About 1,153 metres of new koala fencing that is 1.5 metres high, with galvanised steel sheeting along the top, comprising of:
  • About 360 metres (excluding the 170 metres of koala fence to be assessed by separate EIS) of continuous fencing on the eastern side of Heathcote Road, between existing Defence fencing to the north and Deadmans Creek Bridge to the south.  
  • About 350 metres of fencing on the eastern side of Heathcote Road, south of Deadmans Creek Bridge. This fencing would be installed in three sections to tie into existing rock slopes and St George Crescent, to create a continuous barrier to Heathcote Road.
  • About 143 metres on the western side of Heathcote Road north of Deadmans Creek Bridge to direct fauna to cross under the road via two existing culverts and Deadmans Creek Bridge, and into the fauna access pipes installed in the Defence fencing.
  • About 300 metres on the western side of Heathcote Road, south of Deadmans Creek Bridge.
• A koala grid with a pedestrian gate across St George Crescent about 80 metres from the intersection with Heathcote Road, which aims to prevent koalas from accessing Heathcote Road.
• About six fauna escape structures, located near fence ends or other weak points, to allow any koalas or other fauna to move from roadside to the habitat side of the fence.
• Up to three metres of selective vegetation clearing on either side of koala fencing, including:
  • Trimming of overhanging trunks or branches (that may allow koalas to climb over the fence into the road corridor)
  • Removal of vegetation on existing rock slopes along the proposed fence alignment to deter animals from using the slopes to access the road
• Fauna access improvements around Deadmans Creek Bridge including:
  • Koala refuge poles to offer refuge from predators where trees are absent.
  • Surface treatments (shotcrete/concrete) in drains around existing fauna crossing structures under Deadmans Creek bridge to assist fauna movements.
  • Gates in the fencing for emergency and maintenance access.

Koala fatalities have been recorded on Heathcote Road around Deadmans Creek, where the road separates large areas of habitat within Georges River National Park to the east, and Holsworthy Barracks military base to the west.

Transport engaged a specialist in 2021 to assess and recommend suitable measures to reduce koala vehicle strike in this location, which are documented in the Options Report (PDF, 12.36 MB). The recommended option proposes several sections of fencing that would be constructed on both sides of Heathcote Road around Deadmans Creek, between St George Crescent in Menai and Pleasure Point. Fencing aims to prevent koalas accessing this section of Heathcote Road and direct them towards safe passage points underneath the road, including underneath Deadmans Creek Bridge.

• Koala protection on Heathcote Road around Deadmans Creek August 2025 (PDF, 772.76 KB)
• Koala Protection on Heathcote Road around Deadmans Creek July 2025 (PDF, 311 KB)
• Have Your Say community notice November 2024 (PDF, 2.89 MB)

• Koala Protection on Heathcote Road at Deadmans Creek REF Submissions Report April 2025 (PDF, 6.24 MB)

• Koala protection on Heathcote Road Addendum REF decision memo August 2025 (PDF, 484.04 KB)
• Heathcote Road Koala Fencing REF (PDF, 11.36 MB)
• Appendix E - Heathcote Road Koala Fencing Biodiversity assessment report (PDF, 7.78 MB)
• Appendix F - Heathcote Road Koala Fencing Noise and Vibration assessment report (PDF, 5.52 MB)
• Appendix G - Heathcote Road Koala Fencing Landscape Character and Visual Impact assessment report (PDF, 6.03 MB)