Dr. Pettitt questions the Minister for Transport regarding the Bunbury Outer Ring Road project's impact on western ringtail possums, including mortality, tracking, habitat clearing, and work stoppages. The Minister provides brief answers, noting possum deaths were due to predation and work progressed as planned.

AnsweredQoN 730Legislative Council
Asked
30 August 2022
Portfolio
Transport

QuestionView source ↗

BUNBURY OUTER RING ROAD — WESTERN RINGTAIL POSSUMS
730. Hon Dr BRAD PETTITT to the Leader of the House
representing the Minister for Transport:
I refer to work undertaken for the
southern section of the Bunbury Outer Ring Road.
(1) Were the
three possums mentioned in the Federal Court of Australia as having been found
dead prior to clearing wearing radio tracking collars?
(2) How many possums are currently
wearing radio tracking collars?
(3) What are the
plans for removing the collars once the study on testing the effects of
shepherding western ringtail possums into
adjacent habitat during land clearance for the Bunbury Outer Ring Road is
complete?
(4) How many hectares have been
cleared since works commenced on 1 August 2022?
(5) Clearing
works appeared to pause on Friday, 19 August, resume briefly, and pause again.
What are the reasons for the halt to clearing works?

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question.
(1) Yes. It should be noted that the
cause of death for these possums was predation.
(2) It is approximately 50 western
ringtail possums.
(3) Collars will be removed in
accordance with the approved management plans.
(4) A total of 11.5 hectares.
(5) Work progressed on Friday, 19 August
2022 as planned.

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