❓ A WA parliamentary question on notice regarding the treatment and rehabilitation of fauna on Barrow Island, focusing on Chevron's Gorgon project and the involvement of the Department of Environment. The response provides data and clarifies procedures, funding, and reporting requirements.
AnsweredQoN 2845Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
(1) How many sick, diseased, injured or abandoned fauna were removed from Barrow Island for treatment and rehabilitation on the mainland (please identify species) in: (a) 2014; (b) 2013; (c) 2012; and (d) 2011? (2) For each of the years in (1), how much funding was provided for treatment and rehabilitation of Barrow Island fauna on the mainland (please specify each funding source, the organisation and the organisation/person to which funding was provided)? (3) For each of the years in (1), how many of these fauna (please identify species): (a) died or were euthanised while in care; (b) were subsequently released on the mainland; and (c) were subsequently kept pursuant to a licence (please specify licence type, for example; educational purposes, scientific purposes, other approved public purposes)? (4) Has there been an evaluation of the level of success regarding the release of Barrow Island fauna on the mainland after treatment and rehabilitation? (5) If no to (4), why not? (6) If yes to (4): (a) when was the evaluation done; (b) who did the evaluation; (c) what were the conclusions of the evaluation; (d) where can a copy of the evaluation be publicly accessed; and (e) if the evaluation cannot be publicly accessed, why not? (7) How many sick, diseased, injured or abandoned fauna were cared for on Barrow Island (please identify species) in: (a) 2014; (b) 2013; (c) 2012; and (d) 2011? (8) For each of the years in (7), how much funding was provided for treatment and rehabilitation of these fauna on Barrow Island (please specify each funding source, the organisation/person to which funding was provided)? (9) For each of the years in (7), how many of these fauna (please identify species): (a) died or were euthanised while in care; (b) were subsequently released on Barrow Island; and (c) were subsequently kept (whether on Barrow Island or elsewhere) pursuant to a licence (please specify licence type, for example; educational purposes, scientific purposes, other approved public purposes)? (10) Do the annual environmental performance reports for the Gorgon project specify cause of death of vertebrate fauna casualties? (11) If no to (10), why not? (12) On what basis does Chevron Australia make the decision as to whether an animal is cared for or euthanised? (13) Did the Department of Environment provide advice to Chevron regarding the procedures and documents to guide the decisions on whether to care for or euthanise animals? (14) If no to (13), why not?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
21 April 2015
Responded by
Minister for Mental Health representing the Minister for Environment
Response time
42 days
The Minister for Environment has provided the following response.
(1) [See Tabled Paper No. #].
(2) Parks and Wildlife have not provided any funding for treatment and rehabilitation of Barrow Island fauna on the mainland. Chevron Australia has paid for any minor invoiced bills (i.e. veterinary bills).
(3) [See Tabled Paper No. #].
(4) No
(5) Two birds have been removed from Barrow Island for treatment on the mainland (see Table 1) and have subsequently been released. Because of the very low number, there has not been a need to evaluate the success of releases, and it is difficult to track birds upon release. A Spectacled Hare Wallaby has also been removed from barrow and is being housed at Kanyana Wildlife Centre and will not be released.
(6) Not applicable
(7) [See Tabled Paper No. #].
(8) Parks and Wildlife have not provided any funding for treatment and rehabilitation of Barrow Island fauna on Barrow Island. Parks and Wildlife have, however, provided operational support on Barrow Island when dealing with sick, injured, diseased and abandoned fauna. Chevron staff and contractors have maintained all operational responsibility for treatment and rehabilitation of fauna on Barrow Island.
(9) [See Tabled Paper No. #].
(10) No
(11) The Gorgon project is required to comply with its Ministerial Conditions. The conditions require the Gorgon project to implement procedures in relation to and protocols for capturing, relocating, handling, housing, caring for and reporting to Parks and Wildlife threatened or listed fauna found within the Terrestrial Disturbance Footprint. Table 7-1 in the Gorgon Gas Development and Jansz Feed Gas Pipeline Terrestrial and Subterranean Environment Protection Plan outlines the reporting commitments with respect to fauna incidents. Threatened or listed fauna cared for, injured, or killed within the Terrestrial Disturbance Footprint are to be reported to Parks and Wildlife in the Annual Performance Report. This plan is publicly available on Chevron Australia's website.
(12) The Gorgon project is required to comply with its Ministerial Conditions. Section 3.3 of the Fauna Handling Common User Procedure outlines Chevron's assessment process with respect to discovery of sick, injured, orphaned, entangled, stranded or dead fauna. This procedure is available on Chevron Australia's website.
(13) Yes. Chevron Australia was required to consult with Parks and Wildlife during the development of the Fauna Handling Common User Procedure. Parks and Wildlife approved the procedure prior to the procedure being implemented by Chevron Australia, details of this consultation is contained within the Procedure. Parks and Wildlife reserves officers on Barrow Island are regularly consulted by Chevron Australia in relation to fauna management issues, including assessments of fauna that are sick, injured, diseased or abandoned and the decision to care for or euthanase fauna. This consultation occurs via fortnightly meetings as well as notification to Parks and Wildlife in each instance of fauna held in care.
(14) Not applicable
(1) [See Tabled Paper No. #].
(2) Parks and Wildlife have not provided any funding for treatment and rehabilitation of Barrow Island fauna on the mainland. Chevron Australia has paid for any minor invoiced bills (i.e. veterinary bills).
(3) [See Tabled Paper No. #].
(4) No
(5) Two birds have been removed from Barrow Island for treatment on the mainland (see Table 1) and have subsequently been released. Because of the very low number, there has not been a need to evaluate the success of releases, and it is difficult to track birds upon release. A Spectacled Hare Wallaby has also been removed from barrow and is being housed at Kanyana Wildlife Centre and will not be released.
(6) Not applicable
(7) [See Tabled Paper No. #].
(8) Parks and Wildlife have not provided any funding for treatment and rehabilitation of Barrow Island fauna on Barrow Island. Parks and Wildlife have, however, provided operational support on Barrow Island when dealing with sick, injured, diseased and abandoned fauna. Chevron staff and contractors have maintained all operational responsibility for treatment and rehabilitation of fauna on Barrow Island.
(9) [See Tabled Paper No. #].
(10) No
(11) The Gorgon project is required to comply with its Ministerial Conditions. The conditions require the Gorgon project to implement procedures in relation to and protocols for capturing, relocating, handling, housing, caring for and reporting to Parks and Wildlife threatened or listed fauna found within the Terrestrial Disturbance Footprint. Table 7-1 in the Gorgon Gas Development and Jansz Feed Gas Pipeline Terrestrial and Subterranean Environment Protection Plan outlines the reporting commitments with respect to fauna incidents. Threatened or listed fauna cared for, injured, or killed within the Terrestrial Disturbance Footprint are to be reported to Parks and Wildlife in the Annual Performance Report. This plan is publicly available on Chevron Australia's website.
(12) The Gorgon project is required to comply with its Ministerial Conditions. Section 3.3 of the Fauna Handling Common User Procedure outlines Chevron's assessment process with respect to discovery of sick, injured, orphaned, entangled, stranded or dead fauna. This procedure is available on Chevron Australia's website.
(13) Yes. Chevron Australia was required to consult with Parks and Wildlife during the development of the Fauna Handling Common User Procedure. Parks and Wildlife approved the procedure prior to the procedure being implemented by Chevron Australia, details of this consultation is contained within the Procedure. Parks and Wildlife reserves officers on Barrow Island are regularly consulted by Chevron Australia in relation to fauna management issues, including assessments of fauna that are sick, injured, diseased or abandoned and the decision to care for or euthanase fauna. This consultation occurs via fortnightly meetings as well as notification to Parks and Wildlife in each instance of fauna held in care.
(14) Not applicable
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.