BLACK COCKATOO —
HABITAT
1009. Hon TIM CLIFFORD to the Minister for Environment:
I refer to the article published
recently by WAtoday that highlighted the large fines issued to a wheatbelt
company for illegally clearing black cockatoo habitat, and refer the minister
to the Brixton Street wetlands, which is an ecologically critical part of Perth's
urban bushland.
(1) Is the
minister aware that there is a red-tailed black-cockatoo roost that currently
has 90 juveniles roosting near the corner of Edward Street and Bickley Road in
Kenwick and that this constitutes one of the most important remaining sites in
the south west for this vulnerable species?
(2) Is the minister
aware that approximately eight hectares of marri trees, which provide an
important food source for black cockatoos, was cleared as part of an industrial
development adjacent to the roost?
(3) Does the
minister believe that there is an inconsistency in the response to the clearing
of the black cockatoo habitat in the wheatbelt that has resulted in the
imposition of a fine and the clearing that has been allowed to occur in
Kenwick?
Hon
STEPHEN DAWSON replied:
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question.
(1) I am aware of
a red-tailed black-cockatoo roost site at Edward Street. I understand that the
impacts to the red-tailed black-cockatoo at this site are currently being
considered by the commonwealth Department of the Environment and Energy.
(2) Yes. I am
informed that the clearing was undertaken in accordance with a subdivision
approval, which included environmental conditions.
(3) No. The clearing in the
wheatbelt was undertaken illegally.