❓ Hon Lynn MacLaren questions the Department of Parks and Wildlife on the progress and funding related to Pilbara Olive Python research following a 2013 workshop. The Department provides details on actions taken, funds spent, and future plans.
AnsweredQoN 2255Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
For the one day workshop conducted by the Department of Parks and Wildlife on 10 December 2013 on Pilbara Olive Pythons, with the purpose to determine the highest-priority research needs to ensure survival of viable populations of Pilbara Olive Pythons, I ask: (a) does the Department of Parks and Wildlife propose to provide the participants of that workshop with an annual report on its achievements in implementing the agreed actions; (b) what were the actions agreed to by the participants at that workshop; (c) what was the dollar value of offset funds under Department of Parks and Wildlife control on 9 December 2014 that related to Pilbara Olive Pythons; (d) what offset funds were expended between 10 December 2013 and 9 December 2014 on Pilbara Olive Python projects; (e) how much and on what projects were these funds expended; (f) against each of the actions agreed to by the workshop participants, what has been specifically achieved between 10 December 2013 and 9 December 2014 on Pilbara Olive Python projects; and (g) what research reports or other publications indicating outcomes have been published between 10 December 2013 and 9 December 2014 that relate to the agreed actions for Pilbara Olive Pythons?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
24 February 2015
Responded by
Minister for Mental Health representing the Minister for Environment
Response time
84 days
(a) No. The Department will produce annual progress reports of research activities once they commence, as stipulated in Memoranda of Understanding executed with proponents providing offset funds for the Pilbara Olive Python. These reports will be available to the public on the Departmental website.
(b) Actions agreed to by workshop participants for the Pilbara Olive Python were:
(i) Prepare workshop outputs.
(ii) Distribute workshop outputs.
(iii) Scope and distribute research priorities.
(iv) Look for opportunities to progress agreed research priorities, which were:
- Undertake literature review;
- Develop survey techniques;
- Develop monitoring techniques;
- Better understand habitat requirements;
- Better understand breeding biology;
- Better understand prey relationships; and
- Better understand predator relationships.
(v) Collect and submit tissue samples for genetic testing.
(c) $20 264.
(d) $4 736.
(e) $4 736 was spent on travel throughout the northwest to collect tissue samples from the Pilbara Olive Python for genetic testing at Murdoch University. This activity is aligned with Action v. from the workshop.
(f) Progress against each of the workshop actions is:
(i) Completed.
(ii) Completed, workshop outputs are publicly available.
(iii) The research priorities identified at the workshop have been made available to participants.
(iv) No new opportunities have been identified to progress agreed research priorities. It should be noted however, that a Memoranda of Understanding with Australian Premium Iron, the owner/operator of the West Pilbara Iron Ore project, has been executed and will enable the provision of offset funding ($30 000 per year for ten years) to address Pilbara Olive Python research priorities once the West Pilbara Iron Ore project commences production.
(v) A targeted field trip was undertaken and tissue samples collected for analysis at Murdoch University. At the same time tissue samples were also recovered from preserved specimens at the Western Australia Museum and from vouchers held by the Department.
(g) No research reports or other publications on the Pilbara Olive Python were published by the Department between 10 December 2013 and 9 December 2014.
(b) Actions agreed to by workshop participants for the Pilbara Olive Python were:
(i) Prepare workshop outputs.
(ii) Distribute workshop outputs.
(iii) Scope and distribute research priorities.
(iv) Look for opportunities to progress agreed research priorities, which were:
- Undertake literature review;
- Develop survey techniques;
- Develop monitoring techniques;
- Better understand habitat requirements;
- Better understand breeding biology;
- Better understand prey relationships; and
- Better understand predator relationships.
(v) Collect and submit tissue samples for genetic testing.
(c) $20 264.
(d) $4 736.
(e) $4 736 was spent on travel throughout the northwest to collect tissue samples from the Pilbara Olive Python for genetic testing at Murdoch University. This activity is aligned with Action v. from the workshop.
(f) Progress against each of the workshop actions is:
(i) Completed.
(ii) Completed, workshop outputs are publicly available.
(iii) The research priorities identified at the workshop have been made available to participants.
(iv) No new opportunities have been identified to progress agreed research priorities. It should be noted however, that a Memoranda of Understanding with Australian Premium Iron, the owner/operator of the West Pilbara Iron Ore project, has been executed and will enable the provision of offset funding ($30 000 per year for ten years) to address Pilbara Olive Python research priorities once the West Pilbara Iron Ore project commences production.
(v) A targeted field trip was undertaken and tissue samples collected for analysis at Murdoch University. At the same time tissue samples were also recovered from preserved specimens at the Western Australia Museum and from vouchers held by the Department.
(g) No research reports or other publications on the Pilbara Olive Python were published by the Department between 10 December 2013 and 9 December 2014.
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