Roadkill rage

On social media, feelings run high about the growing amount of roadkill on Phillip Island.

Zann: “We now call it mortuary island: run over wildlife everywhere. 21 years ago koalas used to walk down our streets. Look at what has happened in the past 10 years. Unless they bring in the $$$$ they don’t seem to matter I suppose.”

Rebecca: “Too much development for the island has caused this. The council is money hungry and allows all the development but will shy away from responsibility for cleaning up the mess it creates.”

Erica: “Council and also the Nature Parks carry on about protecting wildlife. What a joke. Money has become the most important to council and government.”

Maree: “Too many people here now, and way too much development. Not much left of our once beautiful island. 40 years I’ve lived here and watched it deteriorate, especially in the past five or so years. So, so sad to see our wildlife being pushed out and being turned into roadkill.”

Vicki: “Their habitat has all but gone. There needs to be a limit set on the amount of tourists who can be on the island at any given time. We need to promote the island as a sanctuary, not just a profit making home of penguins.”

Angel: “More geese are here now because of changes on the island, like farming and changes to water access. That's given them an ideal food source and good breeding areas, also no foxes. Same with wallabies and now possums are considered pests too. Nature is just being nature and responding to what human encroachment is doing to their environment.”

Amanda: “I understand that there is going to be some wildlife casualties, it happens. But the amount of dead animals between Cape and Cowes is so sad.”

Janine: “It happens more regularly during the holiday period. Too many people on one small island. This island is only going to get more and more ridiculously overcrowded.”

Noelsie: “It’s been one of the reasons I want to leave this place. It was better with all the old beach shacks and surfers filling the pubs on a weekend. Those days were genuine.”

Lia: “Don't blame the drivers – people stop when they can and when it's safe to do so.”

Robert: “This won't be popular, but the reality is they are turning into a pest in some parts and there needs to be a way of controlling them. People have lives and they need to get to work or other places, the speed limit is fine.”

Jason: “Large developers pushing more and more to unlock island land. We don't want to be an outer style suburb of Melbourne.”

Anon: “Some areas you can just smell the decaying carcasses as you drive along.”