The problem is Yanchep Beach Road, not St Andrews Drive.
Camera IconThe problem is Yanchep Beach Road, not St Andrews Drive. Credit: Supplied/Supplied

Opinion: Sensible approach to kangaroo safety needed

Barry Avery, YanchepNorth Coast Times

THE challenges which come naturally with large urban developments being built on the doorstep of national parks are always complex and require good management to resolve.

However, I am unable to agree with the assertions of veterinary student Mahala Panegyres and resident Lisa Gregory (Golf Course Roos being hit by cars, North Coast Times, September 27) who have surprisingly extreme views on the extent of injury to kangaroos on St Andrews Drive and in the adjacent park.

My home overlooks both the park and the road and it is a great delight to me the way in which motorists, residents and dog owners in the area respect, and are tolerant, of all the rights due to humans, dogs and, most importantly, our national symbol, the lovely western greys.

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Of course, there are exceptions to the rule.

The occasional dog owner does not control his or her animal; and there will always be speedsters on St Andrews Drive.

And there will always be the potential for catastrophe.

But both Lisa Gregory and Mahala Panegyres should perhaps look at the real problem, which is Yanchep Beach Road.

It is here that kangaroos are killed or injured almost daily, and not St Andrews Drive.

No one wants to see any animal or human hurt, but all attention should be focused on Yanchep Beach Road, where the speed limit is 80km/h – and a recipe for daily tragedy.

We should focus on the real problem before we deny these natural inhabitants rights to the park they obviously love.

We, the residents of St Andrews, almost unanimously, love having them roaming next to our homes.

Let’s approach the problem sensibly and get some scientific analysis done on where the problems lie with empirical evidence to support course of action to be taken.

Knee-jerk responses are seldom successful.

BARRY AVERY,

Yanchep.