The black swan was hit outside the Ballarat Aquatic and Lifestyle Centre on Gillies Street earlier this week. The incident was witnessed by others in the area as it was at school drop-off time, with the driver allegedly fleeing from the scene.

A witness, speaking with The Courier anonymously, said it looked as though the driver - displaying L plates - deliberately hit the swan.

"They had to have felt it and definitely did not stop to check on the swan," they said.

Hit-and-run collisions are unfortunately common around the city's iconic lake, rescuers and carers say.

From January until August last year, volunteer rescuers documented and reported 44 deaths of birds, including swans, as the result of being hit by cars at the lake. Their data shows that throughout 2020, the network recorded and responded to just over 100 rescues to help wildlife at Lake Wendouree.

These unsuspecting animals were hit by cars and were victims of dog attacks, becoming entangled in fishing tackle as well as intentional cruelty with the often preventable injuries still regularly occurring.

Rescuer Tessa Marshall responded to a call about a swan being hit by a car near Nursery Drive at Lake Wendouree in mid-June.

Speaking with witnesses who had called Wildlife Victoria for help, Ms Marshall learned more about what had happened.

"They reported that they saw a man who got into his car and the swan was partly in the way, and instead of getting out or waiting for the swan to cross the road a bit, the man abruptly went forward and ran over the swan's leg," she explained.

Ms Marshall said witnesses heard the swan "crying out, yelping and screeching".

"It was obviously in agony and shock," she said.

Witnesses said the man seemed impatient and instead of getting out of his car to check on the swan, drove away.

Ms Marshall located the injured swan in the water, where it had sought out safety and was favouring one of its legs.

Rescuing the swan so it could be assessed for its injuries was therefore quite an ordeal, with other rescuers called to assist.

While the distressed swan squealed in pain, its mate remained right next to it and rescuers throughout the process.

"It was really quite sad having to take it away even though I knew I was taking it to be checked over," Ms Marshall said. "It really does have an impact on the other swans and its mate, seeing it being taken away and not knowing where it's going or when it will be taken back."

The swan was taken to an experienced wildlife carer to be assessed and treated for its injuries.

Ms Marshall said the incident was heartbreaking, given it was caused by "someone who had gone out of their way to deliberately harm the swan".

An animal lover with a background in environmental science and caring for animals, when the opportunity arose to become a volunteer wildlife rescuer she jumped at the chance. But it has been an eye-opening experience.

She voiced concern about the number of animals injured across Ballarat, particularly around the lake.

After she attended that rescue, rescuers were called to assess another swan who was the victim of another hit and run less than 24 hours later.

There was also the shocking case of a swan being decapitated at Lake Wendouree on July 3.

Read more: Black swan decapitated at lake, likely caused by human harm

Ms Marshall said the amount of incidents, which occurred too frequently, highlighted the need for more to be done to protect wildlife. She has been attempting to liaise with authorities and highlight the need to take action about deliberate injuries to wildlife, including in the case of her rescue, but has not heard back.

"It's hard to take knowing there are people out there who constantly get away with undertaking these callous and deliberate acts and hurting or killing our wildlife.

"Yet there seems to be no or little consequences for them at all. I find that heartbreaking because there are a lot of people trying to do their bit to protect wildlife and doing it all as volunteers for the love of it but there are people deliberately trying to take that all away."

Ms Marshall said the work of rescuers needed to be supported by authorities.

"I think the authorities really need to take a stand and do their bit to prosecute these offenders because otherwise people think they can keep getting away with doing things like this.

"I think these issues really need to be taken seriously because at the moment it doesn't seem like they are. If they were, authorities would be getting on to them quickly and not letting multiple other instances of a similar or worse nature happen," she said.

"If this was a person who had been run down, emergency vehicles would be there straight away. Why are animals, also living species, an afterthought in these exact same circumstances? I think it's so horrific."

She hopes things will change, and joins the voices of other rescuers and carers in the Ballarat Wildlife Rescuers and Carers (BWRAC) Collective, who have advocated for several years for the council to implement a number of measures around the lake to better protect wildlife.

Their suggestions have included reducing grass cutting around the lake to stop swans wandering away for food, installing more signage to warn people against feeding wildlife and installing speed and CCTV cameras at known hot spots around the lake where the most fatalities are occurring - one of these hot spots includes Gillies Street.

They also proposed installing fencing along the south side of the lake, to prevent swans in search of greener grass from wandering on to the busy 60km/h Gillies Street.

In October last year, council told The Courier this measure was being considered but it has not yet been put in place.

Read more: Extra protection promise for lake, swans after dog attack

The Courier submitted questions to the City of Ballarat on Wednesday morning, again asking if the fence would be installed.

In a delayed response on Thursday afternoon, the council said a temporary fence would be installed this week.

"BADGAR received the report of the dead swan and asked our Officers to inspect the bird. The injuries to the swan suggested it had been 'clipped' by a vehicle," Director Infrastructure & Environment, Bridget Wetherall, said.

"The City of Ballarat is awaiting design approval from Heritage Victoria for a fence along the south Gardens boundary with Gillies Street to prevent our swan population venturing onto the road.

"In the meantime, work on installing a temporary fence will begin tomorrow (August 6)."