Latest news with #CarnabysCockatoo
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Sad scene in the middle of a busy Aussie highway prompts 1km backflip
A grim video has emerged of what some locals have deemed a 'death trap' in the middle of a busy Aussie highway, prompting a surprise response from road authorities. Dean Arthurell was recently travelling on the Tonkin Highway near Ellenbrook, a suburb about 30 minutes north of Perth, when he saw several endangered black Carnaby's cockatoos feasting on banksias planted in the fenced centre refuge. While he first spotted the greenery when it was added about five years ago as part of a multi-million dollar upgrade, the founder of Carnaby's Crusaders told Yahoo News it wasn't until recently he noticed cockatoos were risking their lives to reach the now mature plants. 'They're producing banksia cones so that's why they've obviously come to my attention, and obviously the birds' attention, because they're producing food,' Arthurell said, adding he believes the shrubs are banksia prionotes, which are a significant food source for the species. 'In a time where there is really lean food sources, to have an abundance of a key food source that stretches over 1km down the middle of a four-lane highway is a bit criminal.' Arthurell said the section in question sits in a 100km/h zone, baiting birds to 'run the gauntlet' and dodge cars and large trucks in order to reach the sustenance. Remarkably, in light of the video, Main Roads told Yahoo News it has agreed to prune back the plants immediately and ensure their "total removal" soon after. ☀️ Major weather event prompts behavioural change in Aussie birds 🌳 Rare Aussie bird under threat over common tree practice: 'Catastrophic' 🚘 Driver has 'seriously freaky' encounter as huge snake blocks road In an effort to draw attention to the 'clueless' landscaping, the bird advocate posted footage of two Carnaby's cockatoos precariously perched in between vehicles whizzing past in both directions. The clip quickly angered thousands of locals, with many calling for the 'dangerous' plants to be removed. And it seems, Main Roads WA is paying attention. Arthurell told Yahoo he received a call from authorities on Wednesday confirming contractors had been hired to remove the banksia cones that are attracting the birds. The work is expected to take place over the next few days, and the cuttings will be transported to a black cockatoo rehabilitation centre, he claimed. "Main Roads was alerted, via a Facebook post, regarding Black Cockatoos foraging along Tonkin Highway in Ellenbrook," a spokesperson told Yahoo, explaining that the presence of the trees "had not been an issue" until recently. "This is likely due to the plants not being old enough to flower as prolifically as they are now, as well as the lack of food availability in the local area for Black Cockatoos (especially given the last two very dry years we have experienced). "As the flowering Dwarf Banksias at this location are attracting these important birds to fly across Tonkin Highway, Main Roads has arranged for the Dwarf Banksias to be heavily pruned back immediately, followed by the total removal of all foraging species from the median and the edges of the verge. Main Roads said it will be donating the pruned branches to the Kaarakin Black Cockatoo Conservation Centre to support their rehabilitation work. Arthurell said, "It's great" that Main Roads listened to public outcry about the banksias. The state's southwest is home to three threatened black cockatoo species: the endangered Carnaby's cockatoo, the critically endangered Baudin's cockatoo and the Forest Red-tailed black cockatoo, which is listed as vulnerable. Conservationists have warned that if declining numbers are not turned around, all three could be extinct within 20 years. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@ You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
ABC News
06-05-2025
- General
- ABC News
Proposal for Oldbury sand mine on black cockatoo habitat angers residents on Perth's southern fringe
A decade-long battle over a proposed sand mine south of Perth has reached boiling point, as the need to balance the delivery of more housing clashes with environmental concerns. The Shire of Serpentine-Jarrahdale is pushing back against a revived plan to clear 11.6 hectares of protected banksia woodland in Oldbury, along the Swan Coastal Plain on Perth's southern fringes. Beneath this Banksia woodland down the Swan coastal plain lies a dormant sand deposit. ( ABC News: Aran Hart ) Conservationists and residents are concerned, as the site is crucial habitat for the endangered Carnaby's black cockatoo. On the other hand, sand is considered a priority resource, and crucial to bolstering Perth's housing supply Community frustration Resident Ian Morrow lives a couple of hundred metres down the road from the Oldbury site with his partner. 'We came out here to be amongst nature and the bush," Mr Morrow said. " I worry about future generations, the children aren't gonna have this much longer if we keep chopping it down. " Ian Morrow's worried about the impact of the sand mine and how it might damage natural vegetation. ( ABC News: Ruby Littler ) Mr Morrow is also worried about residents' health amid rising awareness around the dangers of silicosis – a preventable lung disease caused by inhaling silica dust. 'There's silica sand in here, the dust is already pretty bad out here but when you're mining it and digging it up, it's going to be 10 times worse.' Back and forth Hanson Materials applied to mine sand at Oldbury more than a decade ago. It has since been acquired by German company Heidelberg Materials. Heidelberg Materials says sand is a priority resource, crucial to the development of the local area. ( ABC News: Ruby Littler ) After back and forth with the local council, the State Administrative Tribunal had to step in to mediate, ultimately approving the project in 2015. Nearly a decade later, in 2024, Heidelberg was required to apply for an amendment to extend a clearing permit. The Shire of Serpentine-Jarrahdale unanimously rejected the proposal, citing concerns over the environment, noise and dust. Locals say they've seen flocks of Carnaby black cockatoos at the site. ( ABC News: Phoebe Pin ) 'We understand that development needs to happen, however there needs to be consideration for what we're passing on to our future generations,' the shire's deputy president Tricia Duggin said. 'If we were to look at sand mining and an application were to come from elsewhere, it would be viewed differently because it wouldn't be involving our banksia woodland.' The Department of Water and Resources is now assessing Heidelberg's clearing permit application. A crucial resource Mining and resource management expert Sally Thompson said balancing environmental protection with housing needs often required difficult decisions. Mining expert Sally Thompson says the housing crisis is an immediate issue that needs to be addressed. ( ABC News: Ruby Littler ) Perth has gone from being the nation's most affordable capital city for rentals, to its second-most expensive in just five years. Photo shows Houses close to Perth's CBD Renters in Perth are feeling the pinch as it becomes the nation's second-most expensive capital to rent in, and an economic expert says the state desperately needs to increase its building capacity. 'If we want to move quickly, we need to use the techniques and the material and the expertise that we already have in Perth. And that's all about sand,' Ms Thompson said. She said the housing industry should aim to use resources which have a lower impact on the environment in the future. 'But we're not going to do that tomorrow and there are people that need houses today," Ms Thompson said. In a statement, Heidelberg Materials said the sand quarry would provide a vital local resource for residential construction, at a time when 'demand is high and sand available locally is low'. Significant headway on the quarry wasn't possible within the original time frame, due to delays in obtaining the required approvals and the impact of COVID. The company said it was committed to an 'environmentally responsible approach', and restoring and offsetting the impact. Environmental concerns remain But the Conservation Council isn't convinced, concerned the project will adversely affect the woodland and its native creatures. The Conservation Council's Mia Pepper says it's time to focus on restoring and protecting the nature we have left. ( ABC News: Ruby Littler ) 'I think companies might have the very best intentions but the reality is often very different,' the Conservation Council's Mia Pepper said. 'We know that banksia rely on some of the mineral sands to survive and grow. It's not just about water … that's why we see failure in attempts to rehabilitate. 'It's death by a thousand cuts for the Carnaby cockatoos. "Restoring and protecting what we have left is really critical to the survival of this species that we know and love.' The Department of Water and Resources said it was unable to commit to a time frame on a decision, noting additional information was required to support the assessment of the application.
