Road traffic accelerates erosion. During every heavy downpour of rain thousands of tonnes of sand wash off the roads to fill lake basins and streams with sediment and smother many natural habitats. Sand from adjacent roads is being sluiced into Lake McKenzie, Lake Allom, Lake Boomanjin, Lake Birrabeen and more. Opening of the canopy over the roads results in desiccation resulting in considerable changes to the micro-flora and a reduction of epiphyte numbers. Shore bird numbers have been decimated by the unchecked growth of four wheel drive beach traffic.
Roads also act as barriers to the movement of wildlife.
Distribution of many ant species and frogs is affected by roads. Some won't cross roads to identical habitat on the other side. The aesthetic impact of noise is well known and understood yet it is largely ignored. The impact of the noise from traffic on the road above Wanggoolba Creek on the walking track beside this icon of Fraser Island significantly degrades this experience. This stopped any progress towards a walking track management plan for the island for more than six years.