❓ This parliamentary question scrutinises the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions' (DBCA) decision to conduct ecological thinning in Gregory State Forest, a known high-density quokka habitat, raising concerns about the impact on this threatened species and the management of the thinning operations.
⏳ Awaiting AnswerQoN 1664Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
(1) Is Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) aware that the Gregory State Forest block near Nannup has the highest density quokka (Setonix brachyurus) populations in the Blackwood District?
(2) Given that Gregory Forest is key habitat for this threatened species, why has DBCA selected Gregory Forest as one of the first forests targeted for its ecological thinning program?
(3) When is DBCA planning to commence thinning operations in Gregory Forest?
(4) When does DBCA expect thinning operations in Gregory Forest to be completed?
(5) Will DBCA staff be responsible for marking out the Disturbance Avoidance Zones (DAZ) in Gregory forest prior to thinning, including stream reserves protecting the threatened quokka populations:
(a) if no to (5), who will be; and
(b) if no to (5), will this work be supervised on the ground by DBCA?
(6) What strategies exist to mitigate any risk of Forest Products Commission's (FPC) commercial vested interest in wanting to maximise the area to be thinned and logs to be produced for sale?
(7) What occurs if contractors violate any of the DAZ boundaries in the course of thinning operations?
(8) Does DBCA have a plan in the event any post-thinning prescribed burn enters the stream reserve boundary and damages threatened quokka habitat?
(9) Are breaches of the DAZ, whether by FPC, FPC contractors or DBCA itself, be publicly reported:
(a) if yes to (9), where and when; and
(b) if no to (9), why not?
(10) Does DBCA have any plans to increase the width of stream reserve boundaries to provide greater protection for threatened quokka populations:
(a) if no to (10), why not?
(11) Which other threatened species are known to be found in Gregory Forest?
(12) Has, or will, DBCA conduct any pre-thinning targeted surveys for any threatened species in Gregory Forest:
(a) if no to (12), why not?
Answered on
(2) Given that Gregory Forest is key habitat for this threatened species, why has DBCA selected Gregory Forest as one of the first forests targeted for its ecological thinning program?
(3) When is DBCA planning to commence thinning operations in Gregory Forest?
(4) When does DBCA expect thinning operations in Gregory Forest to be completed?
(5) Will DBCA staff be responsible for marking out the Disturbance Avoidance Zones (DAZ) in Gregory forest prior to thinning, including stream reserves protecting the threatened quokka populations:
(a) if no to (5), who will be; and
(b) if no to (5), will this work be supervised on the ground by DBCA?
(6) What strategies exist to mitigate any risk of Forest Products Commission's (FPC) commercial vested interest in wanting to maximise the area to be thinned and logs to be produced for sale?
(7) What occurs if contractors violate any of the DAZ boundaries in the course of thinning operations?
(8) Does DBCA have a plan in the event any post-thinning prescribed burn enters the stream reserve boundary and damages threatened quokka habitat?
(9) Are breaches of the DAZ, whether by FPC, FPC contractors or DBCA itself, be publicly reported:
(a) if yes to (9), where and when; and
(b) if no to (9), why not?
(10) Does DBCA have any plans to increase the width of stream reserve boundaries to provide greater protection for threatened quokka populations:
(a) if no to (10), why not?
(11) Which other threatened species are known to be found in Gregory Forest?
(12) Has, or will, DBCA conduct any pre-thinning targeted surveys for any threatened species in Gregory Forest:
(a) if no to (12), why not?
Answered on
AnswerView source ↗
⏳
This question is awaiting a response from the Minister.
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