The future school site in Yanchep. d493117
Camera IconThe future school site in Yanchep. d493117 Credit: Supplied/Supplied

Yanchep school site contains possible cockatoo habitat

Lucy JarvisNorth Coast Times

THE site of Yanchep’s next primary school contains potential habitat for endangered Carnaby’s black cockatoos.

A clearing permit application for the 4ha future school site on Sunningdale Road has been advertised ahead of a Department of Water and Environmental Regulation decision on May 22.

According to a fauna survey report included in the application, an Emerge Associates ecologist recorded cockatoos among 11 native fauna species during a February site visit.

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The survey also found there were three potential black cockatoo habitat trees without hollows but no evidence of the birds roosting within the site.

“Plant species within areas of banksia woodland, as well as, scattered native and non-native trees within the site are considered to provide a limited extent of good quality foraging habitat for Carnaby’s cockatoo and low quality foraging habitat for forest-red tailed black cockatoo,” the report said.

“With the exception of the aforementioned species of black cockatoo, the site is likely to be primarily utilised by common and widespread native species without specific habitat requirements.”

Sunningdale school site in Yanchep.
Camera IconSunningdale school site in Yanchep. Credit: Supplied/Lucy Jarvis

The report said while banksia woodland on the site contained high quality foraging habitat for Carnaby’s cockatoo, the extent of this vegetation was limited at 0.84 ha.

It said there were extensive areas of high quality breeding, roosting and foraging habitat for black cockatoos nearby, including in Yanchep National Park and Gnangara-Moore River State Forest.

A flora survey found most of the vegetation within the site was highly disturbed and modified, with 2.82ha containing completely degraded, non-native vegetation.

It said there was about 0.29ha of relatively intact native vegetation.

“Numerous large remnant native trees across the site may be locally or regionally significant due to

their potential to provide black cockatoo habitat,” it said.

The school site is bound by Sunningdale Road, Moorpark Avenue and St Andrews Park and the school is expected to open in 2021.

Visit www.der.wa.gov.au for more information.

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