ALBANY RING-ROAD — FAUNA MANAGEMENT
916. Hon JAMES HAYWARD to the Leader of the House
representing the Minister for Transport:
I refer to
wildlife management at the Albany ring-road project.
(1) Was a fauna specialist formally engaged in
relation to kangaroo management within the ARR development area; and, if
so, who paid for the service?
(2) Was a fauna management plan professionally
prepared for the ARR by a fauna specialist and endorsed by the
Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions; and, if so, will the
minister table the plan?
(3) Why was a three-hectare containment area built for
kangaroos in 2020 and then dismantled in November 2020, and were these
actions explicitly endorsed by the fauna specialist and DBCA?
(4) Can the
minister advise whether the kangaroos in question are now believed to be
located on neighbouring pastures; and, if so, has the minister been advised
what affected landholders plan to do with regard to the kangaroos on their
pastures?
Hon SUE
ELLERY replied:
I thank the
honourable member for some notice of the question.
(1)–(2) The project contractor received advice from a fauna
specialist and prepared the project's fauna management plans.
There was no regulatory requirement for such plans to receive DBCA endorsement.
(3) The fence in
question was built to reduce the risk of kangaroos interacting with
construction traffic, not to contain the kangaroos. The fence was removed when
the land was subsequently required to support construction activity, such as
the installation of drainage basins.
(4) Given the
high prevalence of kangaroos in the general area, some kangaroos remain on Main
Roads' land, and it is possible that some kangaroos have migrated to
neighbouring properties. Local landowners are entitled to manage kangaroos on
their properties in accordance with established protocol.