❓ WA parliamentary question regarding the potential reintroduction of the Western Swamp Tortoise to Perth Airport land, focusing on habitat suitability, past surveys, and legal protections. The answer reveals a history of negotiations and conflicting priorities between conservation efforts and airport expansion.
AnsweredQoN 1490Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
(1) What evidence exists to suggest that the Western Swamp Tortoise was once found on land now under the control of Westralia Airports Corporation (WAC) at the Perth airport?
(2) Is suitable habitat for this species still present on WAC land and, if yes, is the Government still negotiating with WAC for it to be used as a release area for the captive-bred tortoises?
(3) Is it likely that the tortoise habitat owned by WAC would have the potential to be declared a threatened ecosystem or similar under a future Biodiversity Conservation Act and thus offered protection from further impacts?
(4) Could the tortoise habitat, if still present on WAC land, be listed under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act of the Federal Government and this be protected from further impacts?
(2) Is suitable habitat for this species still present on WAC land and, if yes, is the Government still negotiating with WAC for it to be used as a release area for the captive-bred tortoises?
(3) Is it likely that the tortoise habitat owned by WAC would have the potential to be declared a threatened ecosystem or similar under a future Biodiversity Conservation Act and thus offered protection from further impacts?
(4) Could the tortoise habitat, if still present on WAC land, be listed under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act of the Federal Government and this be protected from further impacts?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
4 June 2003
Responded by
Minister for the Environment and Heritage
Response time
28 days
(2) During 1995, an intensive search was carried out by Chelonia Enterprises assisted by the Department of Conservation and Land Management. No Western Swamp Tortoises were detected but the report concluded: · the Western Swamp Tortoise has inhabited swamps and associated vegetation at Perth airport; and · some swamps at Perth Airport provided suitable habitat for the tortoise, which could survive and breed in them with minor changes to land management practices (mainly the exclusion of foxes), and they constituted "habitat" as defined in the (then) Commonwealth Endangered Species Protection Act. The report recommended that areas within Perth Airport be set aside for the conservation of the Western Swamp Tortoise and, once this had been done, captive bred animals be translocated to them. Representatives of the Western Swamp Tortoise Recovery Team met airport management in November 1996. The Airport manager advised that the Federal Airports Corporation (FAC) might support translocations as long as they did not conflict with the FAC’s plans for Perth Airport. In 1997, the Recovery Team prepared a proposal for consideration by Westralia Airports Corporation (the new owners of the airport), and Environment Australia. The Department of Conservation and Land Management also wrote to Westralia Airports seeking approval for the plan to reintroduce tortoises to airport land. Westralia Airports stated they were required to prepare a Master Plan and Environmental Strategy for Commonwealth Ministerial endorsement and that the proposal would be considered as part of the plan. The plan, which was approved in 1999, proposed that reintroduction would be the subject of further studies and negotiation. In July 2000 Westralia Airports advised that hydrological investigations had shown that the target swamps would be affected by the extension of runway 06/24 and the associated relocation of the Perth Airport Northern Main Drain, and that they were not prepared to support translocation of tortoises. The Recovery Team considered that, even though there may be some detrimental effects on the swamps if the extension was constructed, an experimental translocation should proceed. The Department of Conservation and Land Management has requested that Westralia Airports Corporation review its decision. A draft Perth Airport Environmental Strategy 2003 is currently open for public comment. (3) A Vulnerable ecological community occurring at the potential tortoise swamp is already listed on the non-statutory Western Australian Threatened Ecological Communities list. The proposed Biodiversity Conservation Act for Western Australia is intended to provide legal protection for threatened ecological communities. (4) The Western Swamp Tortoise is listed under the Commonwealth’s Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 and any actions potentially affecting it are required, under that Act, to be assessed by the Commonwealth Minister for the Environment. In addition, Commonwealth assessment is required of any activity likely to have significant impact on the environment on Commonwealth land, especially in relation to any threatened species listed under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act.
· the Western Swamp Tortoise has inhabited swamps and associated vegetation at Perth airport; and · some swamps at Perth Airport provided suitable habitat for the tortoise, which could survive and breed in them with minor changes to land management practices (mainly the exclusion of foxes), and they constituted "habitat" as defined in the (then) Commonwealth Endangered Species Protection Act. The report recommended that areas within Perth Airport be set aside for the conservation of the Western Swamp Tortoise and, once this had been done, captive bred animals be translocated to them. Representatives of the Western Swamp Tortoise Recovery Team met airport management in November 1996. The Airport manager advised that the Federal Airports Corporation (FAC) might support translocations as long as they did not conflict with the FAC’s plans for Perth Airport. In 1997, the Recovery Team prepared a proposal for consideration by Westralia Airports Corporation (the new owners of the airport), and Environment Australia. The Department of Conservation and Land Management also wrote to Westralia Airports seeking approval for the plan to reintroduce tortoises to airport land. Westralia Airports stated they were required to prepare a Master Plan and Environmental Strategy for Commonwealth Ministerial endorsement and that the proposal would be considered as part of the plan. The plan, which was approved in 1999, proposed that reintroduction would be the subject of further studies and negotiation. In July 2000 Westralia Airports advised that hydrological investigations had shown that the target swamps would be affected by the extension of runway 06/24 and the associated relocation of the Perth Airport Northern Main Drain, and that they were not prepared to support translocation of tortoises. The Recovery Team considered that, even though there may be some detrimental effects on the swamps if the extension was constructed, an experimental translocation should proceed. The Department of Conservation and Land Management has requested that Westralia Airports Corporation review its decision. A draft Perth Airport Environmental Strategy 2003 is currently open for public comment. (3) A Vulnerable ecological community occurring at the potential tortoise swamp is already listed on the non-statutory Western Australian Threatened Ecological Communities list. The proposed Biodiversity Conservation Act for Western Australia is intended to provide legal protection for threatened ecological communities. (4) The Western Swamp Tortoise is listed under the Commonwealth’s Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 and any actions potentially affecting it are required, under that Act, to be assessed by the Commonwealth Minister for the Environment. In addition, Commonwealth assessment is required of any activity likely to have significant impact on the environment on Commonwealth land, especially in relation to any threatened species listed under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act.
The report recommended that areas within Perth Airport be set aside for the conservation of the Western Swamp Tortoise and, once this had been done, captive bred animals be translocated to them. Representatives of the Western Swamp Tortoise Recovery Team met airport management in November 1996. The Airport manager advised that the Federal Airports Corporation (FAC) might support translocations as long as they did not conflict with the FAC’s plans for Perth Airport. In 1997, the Recovery Team prepared a proposal for consideration by Westralia Airports Corporation (the new owners of the airport), and Environment Australia. The Department of Conservation and Land Management also wrote to Westralia Airports seeking approval for the plan to reintroduce tortoises to airport land. Westralia Airports stated they were required to prepare a Master Plan and Environmental Strategy for Commonwealth Ministerial endorsement and that the proposal would be considered as part of the plan. The plan, which was approved in 1999, proposed that reintroduction would be the subject of further studies and negotiation. In July 2000 Westralia Airports advised that hydrological investigations had shown that the target swamps would be affected by the extension of runway 06/24 and the associated relocation of the Perth Airport Northern Main Drain, and that they were not prepared to support translocation of tortoises. The Recovery Team considered that, even though there may be some detrimental effects on the swamps if the extension was constructed, an experimental translocation should proceed. The Department of Conservation and Land Management has requested that Westralia Airports Corporation review its decision. A draft Perth Airport Environmental Strategy 2003 is currently open for public comment. (3) A Vulnerable ecological community occurring at the potential tortoise swamp is already listed on the non-statutory Western Australian Threatened Ecological Communities list. The proposed Biodiversity Conservation Act for Western Australia is intended to provide legal protection for threatened ecological communities. (4) The Western Swamp Tortoise is listed under the Commonwealth’s Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 and any actions potentially affecting it are required, under that Act, to be assessed by the Commonwealth Minister for the Environment. In addition, Commonwealth assessment is required of any activity likely to have significant impact on the environment on Commonwealth land, especially in relation to any threatened species listed under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act.
Representatives of the Western Swamp Tortoise Recovery Team met airport management in November 1996. The Airport manager advised that the Federal Airports Corporation (FAC) might support translocations as long as they did not conflict with the FAC’s plans for Perth Airport. In 1997, the Recovery Team prepared a proposal for consideration by Westralia Airports Corporation (the new owners of the airport), and Environment Australia. The Department of Conservation and Land Management also wrote to Westralia Airports seeking approval for the plan to reintroduce tortoises to airport land. Westralia Airports stated they were required to prepare a Master Plan and Environmental Strategy for Commonwealth Ministerial endorsement and that the proposal would be considered as part of the plan. The plan, which was approved in 1999, proposed that reintroduction would be the subject of further studies and negotiation. In July 2000 Westralia Airports advised that hydrological investigations had shown that the target swamps would be affected by the extension of runway 06/24 and the associated relocation of the Perth Airport Northern Main Drain, and that they were not prepared to support translocation of tortoises. The Recovery Team considered that, even though there may be some detrimental effects on the swamps if the extension was constructed, an experimental translocation should proceed. The Department of Conservation and Land Management has requested that Westralia Airports Corporation review its decision. A draft Perth Airport Environmental Strategy 2003 is currently open for public comment. (3) A Vulnerable ecological community occurring at the potential tortoise swamp is already listed on the non-statutory Western Australian Threatened Ecological Communities list. The proposed Biodiversity Conservation Act for Western Australia is intended to provide legal protection for threatened ecological communities. (4) The Western Swamp Tortoise is listed under the Commonwealth’s Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 and any actions potentially affecting it are required, under that Act, to be assessed by the Commonwealth Minister for the Environment. In addition, Commonwealth assessment is required of any activity likely to have significant impact on the environment on Commonwealth land, especially in relation to any threatened species listed under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act.
In 1997, the Recovery Team prepared a proposal for consideration by Westralia Airports Corporation (the new owners of the airport), and Environment Australia. The Department of Conservation and Land Management also wrote to Westralia Airports seeking approval for the plan to reintroduce tortoises to airport land. Westralia Airports stated they were required to prepare a Master Plan and Environmental Strategy for Commonwealth Ministerial endorsement and that the proposal would be considered as part of the plan. The plan, which was approved in 1999, proposed that reintroduction would be the subject of further studies and negotiation. In July 2000 Westralia Airports advised that hydrological investigations had shown that the target swamps would be affected by the extension of runway 06/24 and the associated relocation of the Perth Airport Northern Main Drain, and that they were not prepared to support translocation of tortoises. The Recovery Team considered that, even though there may be some detrimental effects on the swamps if the extension was constructed, an experimental translocation should proceed. The Department of Conservation and Land Management has requested that Westralia Airports Corporation review its decision. A draft Perth Airport Environmental Strategy 2003 is currently open for public comment. (3) A Vulnerable ecological community occurring at the potential tortoise swamp is already listed on the non-statutory Western Australian Threatened Ecological Communities list. The proposed Biodiversity Conservation Act for Western Australia is intended to provide legal protection for threatened ecological communities. (4) The Western Swamp Tortoise is listed under the Commonwealth’s Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 and any actions potentially affecting it are required, under that Act, to be assessed by the Commonwealth Minister for the Environment. In addition, Commonwealth assessment is required of any activity likely to have significant impact on the environment on Commonwealth land, especially in relation to any threatened species listed under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act.
Westralia Airports stated they were required to prepare a Master Plan and Environmental Strategy for Commonwealth Ministerial endorsement and that the proposal would be considered as part of the plan. The plan, which was approved in 1999, proposed that reintroduction would be the subject of further studies and negotiation. In July 2000 Westralia Airports advised that hydrological investigations had shown that the target swamps would be affected by the extension of runway 06/24 and the associated relocation of the Perth Airport Northern Main Drain, and that they were not prepared to support translocation of tortoises. The Recovery Team considered that, even though there may be some detrimental effects on the swamps if the extension was constructed, an experimental translocation should proceed. The Department of Conservation and Land Management has requested that Westralia Airports Corporation review its decision. A draft Perth Airport Environmental Strategy 2003 is currently open for public comment. (3) A Vulnerable ecological community occurring at the potential tortoise swamp is already listed on the non-statutory Western Australian Threatened Ecological Communities list. The proposed Biodiversity Conservation Act for Western Australia is intended to provide legal protection for threatened ecological communities. (4) The Western Swamp Tortoise is listed under the Commonwealth’s Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 and any actions potentially affecting it are required, under that Act, to be assessed by the Commonwealth Minister for the Environment. In addition, Commonwealth assessment is required of any activity likely to have significant impact on the environment on Commonwealth land, especially in relation to any threatened species listed under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act.
In July 2000 Westralia Airports advised that hydrological investigations had shown that the target swamps would be affected by the extension of runway 06/24 and the associated relocation of the Perth Airport Northern Main Drain, and that they were not prepared to support translocation of tortoises. The Recovery Team considered that, even though there may be some detrimental effects on the swamps if the extension was constructed, an experimental translocation should proceed. The Department of Conservation and Land Management has requested that Westralia Airports Corporation review its decision. A draft Perth Airport Environmental Strategy 2003 is currently open for public comment. (3) A Vulnerable ecological community occurring at the potential tortoise swamp is already listed on the non-statutory Western Australian Threatened Ecological Communities list. The proposed Biodiversity Conservation Act for Western Australia is intended to provide legal protection for threatened ecological communities. (4) The Western Swamp Tortoise is listed under the Commonwealth’s Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 and any actions potentially affecting it are required, under that Act, to be assessed by the Commonwealth Minister for the Environment. In addition, Commonwealth assessment is required of any activity likely to have significant impact on the environment on Commonwealth land, especially in relation to any threatened species listed under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act.
A draft Perth Airport Environmental Strategy 2003 is currently open for public comment. (3) A Vulnerable ecological community occurring at the potential tortoise swamp is already listed on the non-statutory Western Australian Threatened Ecological Communities list. The proposed Biodiversity Conservation Act for Western Australia is intended to provide legal protection for threatened ecological communities. (4) The Western Swamp Tortoise is listed under the Commonwealth’s Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 and any actions potentially affecting it are required, under that Act, to be assessed by the Commonwealth Minister for the Environment. In addition, Commonwealth assessment is required of any activity likely to have significant impact on the environment on Commonwealth land, especially in relation to any threatened species listed under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act.
(3) A Vulnerable ecological community occurring at the potential tortoise swamp is already listed on the non-statutory Western Australian Threatened Ecological Communities list. The proposed Biodiversity Conservation Act for Western Australia is intended to provide legal protection for threatened ecological communities. (4) The Western Swamp Tortoise is listed under the Commonwealth’s Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 and any actions potentially affecting it are required, under that Act, to be assessed by the Commonwealth Minister for the Environment. In addition, Commonwealth assessment is required of any activity likely to have significant impact on the environment on Commonwealth land, especially in relation to any threatened species listed under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act.
(4) The Western Swamp Tortoise is listed under the Commonwealth’s Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 and any actions potentially affecting it are required, under that Act, to be assessed by the Commonwealth Minister for the Environment. In addition, Commonwealth assessment is required of any activity likely to have significant impact on the environment on Commonwealth land, especially in relation to any threatened species listed under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act.
· the Western Swamp Tortoise has inhabited swamps and associated vegetation at Perth airport; and · some swamps at Perth Airport provided suitable habitat for the tortoise, which could survive and breed in them with minor changes to land management practices (mainly the exclusion of foxes), and they constituted "habitat" as defined in the (then) Commonwealth Endangered Species Protection Act. The report recommended that areas within Perth Airport be set aside for the conservation of the Western Swamp Tortoise and, once this had been done, captive bred animals be translocated to them. Representatives of the Western Swamp Tortoise Recovery Team met airport management in November 1996. The Airport manager advised that the Federal Airports Corporation (FAC) might support translocations as long as they did not conflict with the FAC’s plans for Perth Airport. In 1997, the Recovery Team prepared a proposal for consideration by Westralia Airports Corporation (the new owners of the airport), and Environment Australia. The Department of Conservation and Land Management also wrote to Westralia Airports seeking approval for the plan to reintroduce tortoises to airport land. Westralia Airports stated they were required to prepare a Master Plan and Environmental Strategy for Commonwealth Ministerial endorsement and that the proposal would be considered as part of the plan. The plan, which was approved in 1999, proposed that reintroduction would be the subject of further studies and negotiation. In July 2000 Westralia Airports advised that hydrological investigations had shown that the target swamps would be affected by the extension of runway 06/24 and the associated relocation of the Perth Airport Northern Main Drain, and that they were not prepared to support translocation of tortoises. The Recovery Team considered that, even though there may be some detrimental effects on the swamps if the extension was constructed, an experimental translocation should proceed. The Department of Conservation and Land Management has requested that Westralia Airports Corporation review its decision. A draft Perth Airport Environmental Strategy 2003 is currently open for public comment. (3) A Vulnerable ecological community occurring at the potential tortoise swamp is already listed on the non-statutory Western Australian Threatened Ecological Communities list. The proposed Biodiversity Conservation Act for Western Australia is intended to provide legal protection for threatened ecological communities. (4) The Western Swamp Tortoise is listed under the Commonwealth’s Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 and any actions potentially affecting it are required, under that Act, to be assessed by the Commonwealth Minister for the Environment. In addition, Commonwealth assessment is required of any activity likely to have significant impact on the environment on Commonwealth land, especially in relation to any threatened species listed under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act.
The report recommended that areas within Perth Airport be set aside for the conservation of the Western Swamp Tortoise and, once this had been done, captive bred animals be translocated to them. Representatives of the Western Swamp Tortoise Recovery Team met airport management in November 1996. The Airport manager advised that the Federal Airports Corporation (FAC) might support translocations as long as they did not conflict with the FAC’s plans for Perth Airport. In 1997, the Recovery Team prepared a proposal for consideration by Westralia Airports Corporation (the new owners of the airport), and Environment Australia. The Department of Conservation and Land Management also wrote to Westralia Airports seeking approval for the plan to reintroduce tortoises to airport land. Westralia Airports stated they were required to prepare a Master Plan and Environmental Strategy for Commonwealth Ministerial endorsement and that the proposal would be considered as part of the plan. The plan, which was approved in 1999, proposed that reintroduction would be the subject of further studies and negotiation. In July 2000 Westralia Airports advised that hydrological investigations had shown that the target swamps would be affected by the extension of runway 06/24 and the associated relocation of the Perth Airport Northern Main Drain, and that they were not prepared to support translocation of tortoises. The Recovery Team considered that, even though there may be some detrimental effects on the swamps if the extension was constructed, an experimental translocation should proceed. The Department of Conservation and Land Management has requested that Westralia Airports Corporation review its decision. A draft Perth Airport Environmental Strategy 2003 is currently open for public comment. (3) A Vulnerable ecological community occurring at the potential tortoise swamp is already listed on the non-statutory Western Australian Threatened Ecological Communities list. The proposed Biodiversity Conservation Act for Western Australia is intended to provide legal protection for threatened ecological communities. (4) The Western Swamp Tortoise is listed under the Commonwealth’s Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 and any actions potentially affecting it are required, under that Act, to be assessed by the Commonwealth Minister for the Environment. In addition, Commonwealth assessment is required of any activity likely to have significant impact on the environment on Commonwealth land, especially in relation to any threatened species listed under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act.
Representatives of the Western Swamp Tortoise Recovery Team met airport management in November 1996. The Airport manager advised that the Federal Airports Corporation (FAC) might support translocations as long as they did not conflict with the FAC’s plans for Perth Airport. In 1997, the Recovery Team prepared a proposal for consideration by Westralia Airports Corporation (the new owners of the airport), and Environment Australia. The Department of Conservation and Land Management also wrote to Westralia Airports seeking approval for the plan to reintroduce tortoises to airport land. Westralia Airports stated they were required to prepare a Master Plan and Environmental Strategy for Commonwealth Ministerial endorsement and that the proposal would be considered as part of the plan. The plan, which was approved in 1999, proposed that reintroduction would be the subject of further studies and negotiation. In July 2000 Westralia Airports advised that hydrological investigations had shown that the target swamps would be affected by the extension of runway 06/24 and the associated relocation of the Perth Airport Northern Main Drain, and that they were not prepared to support translocation of tortoises. The Recovery Team considered that, even though there may be some detrimental effects on the swamps if the extension was constructed, an experimental translocation should proceed. The Department of Conservation and Land Management has requested that Westralia Airports Corporation review its decision. A draft Perth Airport Environmental Strategy 2003 is currently open for public comment. (3) A Vulnerable ecological community occurring at the potential tortoise swamp is already listed on the non-statutory Western Australian Threatened Ecological Communities list. The proposed Biodiversity Conservation Act for Western Australia is intended to provide legal protection for threatened ecological communities. (4) The Western Swamp Tortoise is listed under the Commonwealth’s Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 and any actions potentially affecting it are required, under that Act, to be assessed by the Commonwealth Minister for the Environment. In addition, Commonwealth assessment is required of any activity likely to have significant impact on the environment on Commonwealth land, especially in relation to any threatened species listed under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act.
In 1997, the Recovery Team prepared a proposal for consideration by Westralia Airports Corporation (the new owners of the airport), and Environment Australia. The Department of Conservation and Land Management also wrote to Westralia Airports seeking approval for the plan to reintroduce tortoises to airport land. Westralia Airports stated they were required to prepare a Master Plan and Environmental Strategy for Commonwealth Ministerial endorsement and that the proposal would be considered as part of the plan. The plan, which was approved in 1999, proposed that reintroduction would be the subject of further studies and negotiation. In July 2000 Westralia Airports advised that hydrological investigations had shown that the target swamps would be affected by the extension of runway 06/24 and the associated relocation of the Perth Airport Northern Main Drain, and that they were not prepared to support translocation of tortoises. The Recovery Team considered that, even though there may be some detrimental effects on the swamps if the extension was constructed, an experimental translocation should proceed. The Department of Conservation and Land Management has requested that Westralia Airports Corporation review its decision. A draft Perth Airport Environmental Strategy 2003 is currently open for public comment. (3) A Vulnerable ecological community occurring at the potential tortoise swamp is already listed on the non-statutory Western Australian Threatened Ecological Communities list. The proposed Biodiversity Conservation Act for Western Australia is intended to provide legal protection for threatened ecological communities. (4) The Western Swamp Tortoise is listed under the Commonwealth’s Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 and any actions potentially affecting it are required, under that Act, to be assessed by the Commonwealth Minister for the Environment. In addition, Commonwealth assessment is required of any activity likely to have significant impact on the environment on Commonwealth land, especially in relation to any threatened species listed under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act.
Westralia Airports stated they were required to prepare a Master Plan and Environmental Strategy for Commonwealth Ministerial endorsement and that the proposal would be considered as part of the plan. The plan, which was approved in 1999, proposed that reintroduction would be the subject of further studies and negotiation. In July 2000 Westralia Airports advised that hydrological investigations had shown that the target swamps would be affected by the extension of runway 06/24 and the associated relocation of the Perth Airport Northern Main Drain, and that they were not prepared to support translocation of tortoises. The Recovery Team considered that, even though there may be some detrimental effects on the swamps if the extension was constructed, an experimental translocation should proceed. The Department of Conservation and Land Management has requested that Westralia Airports Corporation review its decision. A draft Perth Airport Environmental Strategy 2003 is currently open for public comment. (3) A Vulnerable ecological community occurring at the potential tortoise swamp is already listed on the non-statutory Western Australian Threatened Ecological Communities list. The proposed Biodiversity Conservation Act for Western Australia is intended to provide legal protection for threatened ecological communities. (4) The Western Swamp Tortoise is listed under the Commonwealth’s Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 and any actions potentially affecting it are required, under that Act, to be assessed by the Commonwealth Minister for the Environment. In addition, Commonwealth assessment is required of any activity likely to have significant impact on the environment on Commonwealth land, especially in relation to any threatened species listed under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act.
In July 2000 Westralia Airports advised that hydrological investigations had shown that the target swamps would be affected by the extension of runway 06/24 and the associated relocation of the Perth Airport Northern Main Drain, and that they were not prepared to support translocation of tortoises. The Recovery Team considered that, even though there may be some detrimental effects on the swamps if the extension was constructed, an experimental translocation should proceed. The Department of Conservation and Land Management has requested that Westralia Airports Corporation review its decision. A draft Perth Airport Environmental Strategy 2003 is currently open for public comment. (3) A Vulnerable ecological community occurring at the potential tortoise swamp is already listed on the non-statutory Western Australian Threatened Ecological Communities list. The proposed Biodiversity Conservation Act for Western Australia is intended to provide legal protection for threatened ecological communities. (4) The Western Swamp Tortoise is listed under the Commonwealth’s Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 and any actions potentially affecting it are required, under that Act, to be assessed by the Commonwealth Minister for the Environment. In addition, Commonwealth assessment is required of any activity likely to have significant impact on the environment on Commonwealth land, especially in relation to any threatened species listed under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act.
A draft Perth Airport Environmental Strategy 2003 is currently open for public comment. (3) A Vulnerable ecological community occurring at the potential tortoise swamp is already listed on the non-statutory Western Australian Threatened Ecological Communities list. The proposed Biodiversity Conservation Act for Western Australia is intended to provide legal protection for threatened ecological communities. (4) The Western Swamp Tortoise is listed under the Commonwealth’s Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 and any actions potentially affecting it are required, under that Act, to be assessed by the Commonwealth Minister for the Environment. In addition, Commonwealth assessment is required of any activity likely to have significant impact on the environment on Commonwealth land, especially in relation to any threatened species listed under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act.
(3) A Vulnerable ecological community occurring at the potential tortoise swamp is already listed on the non-statutory Western Australian Threatened Ecological Communities list. The proposed Biodiversity Conservation Act for Western Australia is intended to provide legal protection for threatened ecological communities. (4) The Western Swamp Tortoise is listed under the Commonwealth’s Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 and any actions potentially affecting it are required, under that Act, to be assessed by the Commonwealth Minister for the Environment. In addition, Commonwealth assessment is required of any activity likely to have significant impact on the environment on Commonwealth land, especially in relation to any threatened species listed under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act.
(4) The Western Swamp Tortoise is listed under the Commonwealth’s Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 and any actions potentially affecting it are required, under that Act, to be assessed by the Commonwealth Minister for the Environment. In addition, Commonwealth assessment is required of any activity likely to have significant impact on the environment on Commonwealth land, especially in relation to any threatened species listed under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act.
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