Signs help to save quokkas

Drivers in the Shire of Manjimup are being reminded of the presence of quokkas with new road signs installed throughout the shire.

After a spike in quokka fatalities, requests from the public resulted in the council purchasing and installing the signs, with the approval of Main Roads Western Australia.

Pemberton’s Toni Dearle said her involvement with the installation of the signs had begun when she and her husband discovered seven dead quokkas on a stretch of road.

Mrs Dearle paid tribute to the work done by Michael Leers in lobbying Main Roads for permission to install the signs and Wendy Eiby’s proactive work on the project.

“I am really, really pleased we managed to get this done, and Michael was amazing,” she said.

A council spokeswoman said long weekends saw an increase in quokka fatalities, due to increased road traffic.

“Please slow down, drive carefully and enjoy the environment that the South West has to offer,” she said.