The Roe 8 project in the Perth area will give the human population many benefits. It will not, however, be beneficial for the natural areas that both the construction site and the resulting highway will plow through. Before the project was approved, worried environmental organisations asked for strict mitigation measures to be put in place to protect local flora and fauna.
To minimise impacts of construction activities, these measures included trapping and relocation of species such as the Southern Brown Bandicoot, various reptiles, the Carnaby’s Black Cockatoo and the Forest Red-tailed Black Cockatoo. Without relocation, all these species would find themselves trapped, surrounded by highways on all sides and with a construction site growing in the area that they were peacefully living in.
When a bandicoot was found, fatally hit by a vehicle on one of the neighbouring highways, it was clear that something wasn't right. The relocation program up to now has been murky and no information has been divulged: what traps are being used? How many animals have been relocated? How many have been injured?
We ask that the Roe 8 project start taking its promise to protect the fauna in its construction site seriously and be more transparent regarding the trapping and relocation program. The effectiveness of this measure must be evaluated and, if found unsatisfactory, other options must be looked for.
Dear Minister Speakman,
the Roe 8 project in the Perth area will give the human population many benefits. It will not, however, be beneficial for the natural areas that both the construction site and the resulting highway will plow through. Before the project was approved, worried environmental organisations asked for strict mitigation measures to be put in place to protect the wellbeing of local flora and fauna.
To minimise impacts of construction activities, these measures included trapping and relocation of the Southern Brown Bandicoot, various species of reptiles, the Carnaby’s Black Cockatoo and the Forest Red-tailed Black Cockatoo. Without relocation, all these species would find themselves trapped, surrounded by highways on all sides and with a construction site growing in the area that they were peacefully living in.
When a bandicoot was found, fatally hit by a vehicle on one of the neighbouring highways, it was clear that something wasn't right. The relocation program up to now has been murky and no information has been divulged: what traps are being used? How many animals have been relocated? How many have been injured?
We ask that the Roe 8 project start taking its promise to protect the fauna in its construction site seriously and be more transparent regarding the trapping and relocation program. The effectiveness of this measure must be evaluated and, if found unsatisfactory, other options must be looked for.
Sincerely,
the Care2 Team
