❓ A parliamentary question regarding the environmental impact of the Stephenson Avenue Extension Project, specifically concerning flora, fauna, and community reports of turtle sightings. The Minister provides details of environmental consultants, reports, mitigation measures, and clarifies the turtle sighting discrepancy.
AnsweredQoN 192Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to a letter response to the Leader of the Opposition, from the Minister, in relation to the Stephenson Avenue Extension Project and impacts of works on local flora and fauna, and I ask: (a) which environmental consultants were engaged throughout the process for project work undertaken by Main Roads WA, as referred to in the letter; (b) in reference to (a), what reports or other documents did these consults produce; (c) can the Minister please table the materials in (b); (d) what are the "additional measures" put in place to protect any fauna, as referred to in the letter; (e) what "stringent environmental approvals" were completed to manage vegetation and potential fauna during clearing, as referred to in the letter; (f) can the Minister please table any material or reports in relation to (e); (g) who was the "independent and highly experienced ecologist" referred to in the letter; and (h) why does the assurance advising that there were no sightings or presence of turtles differ so radically from the experience reported on the ground by the local community?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
13 August 2025
Responded by
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Transport
Response time
10 days
(a) Anders Environmental Consulting, WSP, and Bamford Consulting Ecologists.
(b)
I. Flora and Vegetation Survey and Threatened Black Cockatoo Assessment (Anders, April 2018)
II. Flora and Vegetation Survey (Anders, January 2019)
III. Report on Fauna Relocation, Cedric St (Banford, March 2025).
(c) Redacted reports are provided.
(d) The management measures included installation of fences, to prevent fauna entering the project site and engagement of an ecologist(s) / utilising a qualified fauna handler(s) to trap and relocate fauna (if necessary) prior to the specific works commencing. A suitably qualified person was also present during the clearing works to act as a fauna spotter in the immediate vicinity of the works.
(e) Prior to the start of clearing, the proposed clearing activities were assessed in accordance with Main Roads’ environmental and heritage screening and approval process. to understand the relevant environmental and heritage risks and ensure that the appropriate risk controls would be implemented. Controls included demarcation of the approved clearing boundary and verification prior to commencement, along with other relevant control measures required in accordance with the project’s Construction Environmental Management Plan.
(f) Redacted copy of the Main Roads internal environmental risk assessment provided.
(g) Mike Bamford, Bamford Consulting Ecologists
(h) Main Roads understands long-necked turtles were present in the drain along Cedric Street but that location, while nearby, was not in the area required to be cleared along the on-ramp.
(b)
I. Flora and Vegetation Survey and Threatened Black Cockatoo Assessment (Anders, April 2018)
II. Flora and Vegetation Survey (Anders, January 2019)
III. Report on Fauna Relocation, Cedric St (Banford, March 2025).
(c) Redacted reports are provided.
(d) The management measures included installation of fences, to prevent fauna entering the project site and engagement of an ecologist(s) / utilising a qualified fauna handler(s) to trap and relocate fauna (if necessary) prior to the specific works commencing. A suitably qualified person was also present during the clearing works to act as a fauna spotter in the immediate vicinity of the works.
(e) Prior to the start of clearing, the proposed clearing activities were assessed in accordance with Main Roads’ environmental and heritage screening and approval process. to understand the relevant environmental and heritage risks and ensure that the appropriate risk controls would be implemented. Controls included demarcation of the approved clearing boundary and verification prior to commencement, along with other relevant control measures required in accordance with the project’s Construction Environmental Management Plan.
(f) Redacted copy of the Main Roads internal environmental risk assessment provided.
(g) Mike Bamford, Bamford Consulting Ecologists
(h) Main Roads understands long-necked turtles were present in the drain along Cedric Street but that location, while nearby, was not in the area required to be cleared along the on-ramp.
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