INLAND Rail says it has delivered an Australian first in its efforts to protect local wildlife during construction, installing 3D-printed nesting boxes on its Seymour-Avenel Road construction site to provide shelter for local creatures.

Inland Rail and its construction partner McConnell Dowell joined with University of Melbourne researchers to install 18 3D-printed artificial hollows on the site for wildlife that may have been disrupted by the nearby construction activity.

Native birds and mammals such as the crimson rosella, turquoise parrot, sugar glider and the brush-tailed phascogale could benefit from the initiative.

The purpose of the project is to understand how local fauna interacts with 3D hollows compared to traditional nest boxes.

"It's exciting to look at how we can better match the shapes and materials of natural hollows," University of Melbourne researcher Dan Parker said.

“The hollows will be monitored by cameras that notify researchers in real time when animals are attracted to and inspecting the hollows.

“We will continue to monitor the nesting boxes to determine the effectiveness and success of the designs."

Cameras have already filmed creatures moving into the new homes.

The artificial hollows are made from 3D-printed wood, mycelium (the root-like structures of mushrooms) and hempcrete.

Ed Walker, a manager at Inland Rail, said: “Inland Rail is determined to minimise the impact it makes on local communities and wildlife."