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Dear Minister, please act on our deer
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Dear Minister, please act on our deer

The need for deer warning signs on East Gippsland roads has been raised in State Parliament by Gippsland East Nationals MP, Tim Bull.

He has formally asked the Minister for Roads and Road Safety to install roadside signs warning motorists of the deer collision hazard, saying sambar deer are in plague proportions and are the cause of an increasing number of accidents.

Mr Bull said local panel beaters were seeing a lot more work come their way because of collisions with deer.

“Unfortunately it appears only a matter of time before we have a serious accident with some of the most hazardous areas including the Princes Highway East, Great Alpine Road, the Buchan-Gelantipy Road and Licola Road,” he said.

“I have been advised that deer warning sign were erected in some areas but lasted only a matter of weeks before being stolen by irresponsible souvenir collectors.

“However, the problem has not gone away and the signs have not been replaced.”

Mr Bull suggested more generic wildlife warning signs might overcome the novelty value of the deer specific sign, which seem to be popular keepsakes.

“While culling programs have been undertaken this year in an effort to reduce numbers, warning motorists of the danger on our roads is something that we could and should improve.”

The Minister has 30 days to respond to Mr Bull.

 

Caption: Member for Gippsland East, Tim Bull, inspects a vehicle damaged by a collision with a deer with Brian Casey at GP Motors Bairnsdale.

Thursday, September 14, 2017