Kangaroos behind the construction fence at the Sunningdale school site in Yanchep.
Camera IconKangaroos behind the construction fence at the Sunningdale school site in Yanchep. Credit: Supplied/Supplied, Northern Valleys Wildlife Support

Kangaroo concerns at Yanchep school construction site

Lucy JarvisWanneroo Times

CONSTRUCTION of a primary school in Perth’s north will not start until kangaroos have been relocated from the site.

A Northern Valleys Wildlife Support representative said the contractor, EMCO Building, had worked with the group to arrange for a licensed wildlife relocator to move the mob of about 15 to 20 kangaroos from the Yanchep site.

“No work will take place on the site until they have been moved,” the volunteer wildlife carer said.

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She said relocation could not take place during this week’s hot weather and the animals could get out at the moment because the fence was not completed yet.

“We have no update on what will happen to the smaller animals – bobtails, lizards and bandicoots,” she said.

The group and residents raised concerns about kangaroos as construction fences went up around the Sunningdale primary school site on Moorpark Avenue in the St Andrews estate in late-January to coincide with the official sod-turning.

“The fencing encompasses 80 per cent of the bushland where a remaining mob of kangaroos live on the estate,” the group posted on Facebook.

“Even if they find their way out looking for water there is no direct exit for them to open bushland.

“They may panic on the surrounding roads and likely try and gain entrance back to their home.”

An Education Department spokeswoman said it and the Finance Department, which was the project manager, were liaising with the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions to ensure the best welfare outcomes for the kangaroos.

“We’ve been advised that the animals should not be approached by members of the public,” she said.

The Sunningdale primary school site in Yanchep.
Camera IconThe Sunningdale primary school site in Yanchep. Credit: Supplied/Supplied

The spokeswoman said required management plans from the builder needed to be finalised before works could start, however the wildlife carer said it was concerning that the State Government did not have to comply with the City of Wanneroo’s fauna management policy.

The City introduced the policy in 2018 in response to kangaroo welfare issues that had arisen in the area over recent years.

In 2016, a mob was relocated from St Andrews Park beside the school site to nearby bushland and Sun City Country Club erected a fence around the golf course, which affected kangaroo movements in the area.

The December bushfire also burnt through large parts of Yanchep National Park and surrounding bushland.

“Our poor Yanchep wildlife just can’t catch a break,” a Northern Valleys post said.

“With a burnt out landscape that they had managed to avoid, you have to wonder where these poor souls will go, as sadly they wont survive the stress where they are once land clearing starts.”