Koala Beach has always been more than a housing estate — it’s a sanctuary. Our streets echo with the calls of Bush Stone-Curlews, the flutter of plovers, and the gentle presence of koalas and echidnas.

But tragedy struck again on Saturday night, and our hearts are broken. An entire Bush Stone-Curlew family was killed on Sassafras Drive. The mother and chick were run over, and the father was found on the roadside with a broken leg — rescued by a wildlife carer but sadly had to be euthanised at the hospital. Just one day earlier, a koala was sighted in a roadside tree, needing to cross the same stretch of road where the curlews died. Would he be next?

Speeding and careless driving have become a weekly occurrence. Plovers, ducks, swamp hens, echidnas — even our curlews — are being struck down week after week. Despite months of signage, letterbox drops, and personal pleas to drivers to slow down, the speeding continues.

It’s time for stronger protection.

Our Goal

We are raising $2,800 AUD to install a two-camera wildlife-safety monitoring system on a volunteer’s private property overlooking Sassafras Drive.

This includes:

1 × ANPR (Number Plate Recognition) camera — records vehicles driving dangerously.

1 × 4K context camera — captures traffic flow and wildlife movement.

Secure data storage, professional installation, and clear CCTV signage.

All recordings will comply with NSW privacy laws — no audio, and all data will be securely password-protected.

Footage will only be used to assist Tweed Shire Council and NSW Police in enforcing road safety and protecting wildlife.

Why It Matters

This isn’t about blame — it’s about compassion and responsibility. The curlews, koalas, plovers, ducks, swamp hens, and echidnas are not just wildlife — they’re part of the soul of Koala Beach. Every life lost is one we could have saved.

This project will honour the curlew family we lost and protect the many other species still crossing our roads. Together, we can make Sassafras Drive a safe passage again — for wildlife and for us all.

How You Can Help

Donate — every contribution brings us closer to protection.

Share — tell neighbours, local groups, and friends.

Drive with care — slow down and spread awareness.

Your generosity will help save the next curlew family, the next koala crossing, the next plover or echidna who depends on us.