Save the Bendigo Kangas

A mob of kangaroos living on the proposed site for the Commonwealth Games athletes village in Bendigo are still trapped despite cancellation of the event.

Over the last month, exclusion fencing has been erected around the Flora Hill site to force the mob away from their home and onto main roads. Five kangaroos from the mob have been brutally killed by road strike due to a poorly managed plan to exclude them from their home. And it’s all been for nothing.

Whilst the site does not provide a suitable long-term home for the mob, development has been paused to await community consultation for an alternative build.

Protecting these kangas in the meantime is the least we can do.

A mob of kangaroos living on the proposed site for the Commonwealth Games athletes village in Bendigo are still trapped despite cancellation of the event.

Over the last month, exclusion fencing has been erected around the Flora Hill site to force the mob away from their home and onto main roads. Five kangaroos from the mob have been brutally killed by road strike due to a poorly managed plan to exclude them from their home. And it’s all been for nothing.

Whilst the site does not provide a suitable long-term home for the mob, development has been paused to await community consultation for an alternative build.

Protecting these kangas in the meantime is the least we can do.

Take action

Mismanaged relocations cause severe injury and stress in kangaroos and the death toll at Flora Hill is rising. Email the Minister for Environment and the Member for Bendigo East to demand action today.

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Dear Steve Dimopoulos (Minister for Environment) and Jacinta Allan (Premier, Member for Bendigo East),

I write to register ongoing concern for the exclusion and dispersal of the mob of kangaroos residing at 2 Osborne Street, Flora Hill.

Development Victoria have been granted authorization to disturb the mob at the proposed site to allow the Commonwealth Games village development to proceed in a way that achieves a ‘good animal welfare outcome’.

Instead, five kangaroos from this mob have already been brutally killed by road strike.

The Commonwealth Games was cancelled on 19 July 2023. While the decision to develop this site is still being made, the safety and future of the resident kangaroos needs to be a priority.

Rather than being humanely and professionally relocated, the mob is being herded across major roads into unsuitable bushland using exclusion fencing.

The kangaroos have lived on the site for years. While they may leave the site for periods of time, it is their permanent home. The sensors installed to monitor their movements do not confirm that all the mob leave the site, meaning that those who are herded at the end stages face a high risk of car strike and not being able to be sustained in the surrounding environment.

The concerns raised by residents, wildlife rescuers and expert veterinarians have been presented three times in Parliament.  Prior consultation with these groups has not occurred.

Kangaroos separated from their mob after becoming trapped by exclusion fencing are confused, stressed, hopping into the fencing trying desperately to get back into their home.

We are calling on you to move the temporary fencing so the kangaroos can at least access water and shelter near the creek. Whilst this will improve their short-term safety, we urge you to engage with wildlife experts to formulate a viable long term plan for the mob before future development commences.

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