Wanneroo Council endorses fauna management policy to manage kangaroos during land clearing

WANNEROO Council has endorsed a fauna management policy that aims to ensure kangaroos and other large animals are relocated before land is cleared.

Following public consultation, the City made minor changes to the draft policy and the council adopted the final version at its November 13 meeting.

During consultation earlier this year, the City received eight submissions that the council report said were “generally supportive”.

Some submissions, including from the Department of Communities and LandCorp, raised questions about the fencing requirements and the City changed the policy to clarify those.

“Fencing for the purpose of containing fauna is to encompass the section of land proposed to be cleared only, and not the entire landholding or on sites where fauna is not known to be present,” the report said.

In response to submissions from environmental consultants Strategen Terrestrial Ecosystems, the City added a provision that the standard monitoring period would be three years.

Submissions also questioned how the policy would be policed and the effectiveness of fauna relocation.

The City identified a need for the policy following issues where kangaroos were being displaced into residential areas, golf courses and development sites, including in Yanchep.

The policy says landowners are responsible for protecting and managing all fauna on a development site, and requires them to manage animals in a “humane manner” in accordance with animal welfare legislation.