HooRoo: Morisset's kangaroos to be off limits to tourists
27th November 2018
Source: Newcastle Herald | By: Matthew Kelly | Posted: November27, 2018
Public access to Morisset Hospital and its world famous kangaroo population will soon be restricted due to health and safety concerns.
The action follows a number of incidents where members of the public have been seriously injured by kangaroos,
health services have been disrupted by the influx of cars and buses on-site, and kangaroos have been injured or killed.”
“Ensuring the health and welfare of the public, our patients, and staff, at Morisset Hospital is our priority,” Hunter New England Health chief executive Michael DiRienzo said.
“Unfortunately, tourists have continued to visit the site to feed and interact with the animals, despite clear signage instructing them not to do so.”
The hospital’s main gate will be permanently locked while custom-built gates are being constructed. New gates, to be installed in March or April 2019, will have swipe card access, intercom and video cameras for staff.
Bollards and additional fencing across the campus will also be installed.
“As the site will soon be closed to general visitors, we also request that tour operators and other visitor information websites remove any reference to the facility as a tourist attraction,” Mr DiRienzo said.
Member for Lake Macquarie, Greg Piper MP, ssaid that it was important to protect the safety of everyone on the site.
“Like many in the community, we are concerned by the increasing number of people visiting the Morisset Hospital campus to see the kangaroos,” Mr Piper said.
“It has had a detrimental effect on the kangaroos and a number of visitors to the site have been badly injured during their interaction with the animals.”
“Morisset Hospital is an operational mental health facility. For many patients, the campus is their home and accessing areas of the site is part of their rehabilitation and treatment. Unfortunately tourists have also approached mental health patients which can impact their care and wellbeing.”
Audrey Koosmen, Chair NSW Wildlife Council and President of Hunter Wildlife Rescue, also said that it was important to support the local wildlife to live naturally and safely at Morisset Hospital.
“The situation with increasing numbers of tourists was not good for the welfare of both kangaroos and patients,” Ms Koosman said. “While many of the tourists may have been well-intentioned, I am glad we have found a solution to protect the kangaroos from further harm and interference.”
Mr DiRienzo said that, while the kangaroos are welcome co-tenants at Morisset, the increasing numbers of tourists coming to visit the kangaroos at the site was not sustainable.
“The situation was not good for the welfare of patients, staff or the kangaroos themselves,” Mr DiRienzo said. “We appreciate the input of everyone who has helped work towards finding a suitable solution to this problem.”
The gates on the bridge on the main road leading into Morisset Hospital will be locked in the coming weeks once the appropriate road infrastructure has been installed. Members of the general public are reminded not to visit the site unless authorised.
A working group involving Greg Piper, Hunter New England Local Health District, and representatives from RSPCA, NSW Wildlife Council and NSW Parks and Wildlife had input into the decision.
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