Mandurah Entrance Road - clearing (QON 1450)

1450. Hon Alison Xamon to the Minister for Transport
With reference to Mandurah Entrance Road, I ask -
(1) How many trees with a stem diameter greater than 300mm are being cleared?
(2) Why are all the largest Tuart trees on the ridgeline near the Perth-Mandurah railway being cleared?
(3) How many Black Cockatoos will be affected by the clearing?
(4) How many tortoises will be affected by the clearing?
(5) What efforts are being made to rescue birds and other animals in trees and in or under logs or rocks on the ground?

Hon SIMON O’BRIEN replied:
(1) The clearing area for the project has not detailed the total number of trees over the project area to be cleared, the parkland section where the project approval provides for the clearing of up to 267 mature Tuart and jarrah trees. Mature trees on the perimeter of the clearing line were assessed individually to determine if design changes would allow for their retention. 17 of 26 mature trees were retained through design innovations or amended construction practises.
(2) Clearing for the project was kept to the minimum necessary for the safe construction and operation of the road within the road reservation as defined in the Peel Region Scheme.
(3) Pre-construction, cockatoo surveys were conducted to determine the presence and location of active Black Cockatoo nest trees. Several were identified close to the project footprint but none have been impacted by clearing. The project environmental management measures have included the installation of 30 artificial cockatoo nest hollows within the environs of the project.
(4) One tortoise was found in close proximity to the clearing operations. This animal was tagged and released into the adjacent Marlee Reserve.
(5) The project clearing is now essentially complete. Management and monitoring measures included a number of activities to minimise fauna impacts, including -
• Pre-clearing fauna surveys trapped and radio-collared possums present within the road reservation and adjacent Marlee Reserve. Potential habitat trees were then individually checked for the presence of possums using radio transmitters prior to removal. Where a possum was identified within a tree the clearing operations were halted and the possum safely trapped and re-located before the tree was removed.
• Habitat trees were visually inspected by a cherry picker and habitat hollows individually searched for fauna.
• Pre-clearing fauna trapping was conducted in areas where habitat for larger fauna will be impacted. Trapped fauna were then released into adjacent habitat or reserve areas.
• Ground debris such as rocks and timber are visually inspected by spotters directly in advance of clearing activities.
• SGA engaged a local fauna expert to assist in the fauna monitoring and translocation activities, and worked with the University of WA researches during the clearing operations. Fauna trapping and relocation resulted in the following fauna being relocated -
• 1 female Brushtail possum with infant
• 4 bandicoots
• 4 Western Green Tree Frogs
• 14 snakes
• 72 bird eggs
• 30 bird chicks
• 77 reptiles and 25 reptile eggs
• 1 Longneck Tortoise