Korzy’s call to action on Ingleside wildlife corridor
Pittwater Greens Councillor Miranda Korzy has called on the NSW Government to protect land next to wildlife crossings on Mona Vale Road from development, to ensure native animals travelling between bushland on either side are not blocked by backyard fences.
Cr Korzy said Transport for NSW constructed two fauna crossings, an underpass and a bridge as part of the upgrade to Mona Vale Road East, which opened in March 2024.
However, Cr Korzy said that when the crossings were originally announced in 2017, the previous NSW Government had committed to creating wildlife corridors to link Ingleside Chase Reserve with Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park. The land is adjacent to Ingleside Chase Reserve to the south of the main road, and Katandra Bushland Sanctuary to the north.
“(My motion calls) on the government to finish the job on the wildlife corridor,” Cr Korzy told PL. “My motion will also provide for the council to liaise with the Department of Planning, which owns the land, and other state agencies to identify other potential options for protecting the land.”
Cr Korzy said the sites, covered in undisturbed bushland, will be zoned C3 (Environmental Management) in the new local environment plan (LEP), which could allow residential development. She said that the land at either end of the crossings should be protected from development to ensure that backyard fences do not stop passing wildlife.
Pittwater Natural Heritage Association (PNHA) has led a 10-year campaign to protect the Ingleside land. PNHA member Jacqui Marlow said: “Ingleside Chase Reserve is home to wallabies, echidnas, gliders and many other native species including the Eastern Pygmy Possum which is on the NSW threatened species list.
“I’ve seen evidence that the fauna bridge is working, but If animals that use it are not able to move through the adjoining bushland to find food and mates and escape bushfire, they will decline until they become locally extinct.”
Independent PIttwater MP Jacqui Scruby said the area’s ‘extraordinary natural heritage’ should be protected. “For the (wildlife crossings) to be most effective, adjoining land in Ingleside must be rezoned to ensure wildlife can move safely into Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park,” Ms Scruby said.
“If this doesn’t happen, the significant investment already made in building the wildlife crossings will effectively have been wasted.”