Plans for a wildlife underpass at Toohey Forest are moving forward, with local residents and wildlife carers pushing for greater protections, monitoring and research, as frequent koala sightings increase the risk for more road deaths.
Community Concern Grows Around Koala Road Risks
Earlier this month, plans were confirmed for a wildlife underpass beneath Toohey Road to connect both sides of Toohey Forest. Since then, residents living near the forest have come forward with growing concern about the number of koalas seen dangerously close to traffic, calling the project overdue and urging stronger action.
Local wildlife advocate Brad Lambert, who runs a dedicated Facebook group about the area’s koalas, has observed a sharp increase in sightings over the past year. He said he spotted 10 koalas across different locations in just one week and had previously counted up to 19 in a single week. He also noted a rise in the number of road strikes involving the animals, despite the lack of an official database tracking deaths.
Lambert said more consistent monitoring and clearer population data were urgently needed to assess the risk and determine whether local koala numbers could be sustained over time.
A Call for Scientific Monitoring
While Brisbane already has a land bridge at Compton Road near Karawatha Forest and aerial rope crossings in other areas, the Toohey Forest project will be the city’s first purpose-built underpass for koalas. With that in mind, advocates are hoping it will also become a research opportunity.
Lambert and others are encouraging council to install motion-sensing cameras at both ends of the underpass to allow researchers, including those from nearby Griffith University, to track how often wildlife use the structure. Currently, there is little available data on how well these types of crossings work in urban areas like Brisbane.
By gathering information from day one, residents hope the project can provide long-term insights and shape future wildlife planning elsewhere in the city.
History, Habitat and Hopes for the Future
Toohey Forest, which borders the suburbs of Tarragindi, Moorooka and Nathan, is now one of the city’s healthiest koala habitats — but that wasn’t always the case. Around 30 years ago, there were no known koalas in the forest. Some carers believe the population may have grown as a result of rescues and relocations from other parts of Brisbane, where habitat loss has been more severe.
The underpass, funded by with a $3-million contribution through the Saving Koalas Fund, will sit just southwest of the Toohey Picnic Area. It will be designed with natural materials like mulch and logs to encourage animal use and will include fencing to guide wildlife away from the road and toward the crossing.
Cr Steve Griffiths said the fencing, along with escape hatches for trapped animals, would allow traffic to continue at normal speeds while improving safety for wildlife. He welcomed the funding and acknowledged residents’ long-standing calls for action.
Council is expected to begin construction sometime between mid-to-late 2025. In the meantime, updates will be shared with residents as the project moves closer to its start date.
Published 14-July-2025
