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Legislative Council - Fifty-First Parliament, Second Session (51-2)
2007-11-13 Daily Xml
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ENDANGERED BIRDS

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (15:29): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Environment and Conservation a question about endangered native parrots.

Leave granted.

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER: South Australia is home to some of South Australia's most exciting native bird species. However, habitat loss, introduced predators—

The Hon. J.M.A. Lensink interjecting:

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER: Well, exciting to some—and a range of other factors have led to a decline of some species across many areas of the state. Will the minister inform the council of the latest moves to protect our threatened birds?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Environment and Conservation, Minister for Mental Health and Substance Abuse, Minister Assisting the Minister for Health) (15:30): I thank the honourable member for his important question. I am pleased to inform the council that one of our most endangered native birds will benefit from a new agreement reached between the Department for Environment and Heritage and the District Council of Grant. I am referring to the orange-bellied parrot. Fewer than 150 of these birds are thought to remain in the wild, so it is clearly a species that is under significant threat and needs to be managed extremely well.

These parrots are an amazing native species and a very precious asset to the state. Although for most of the year they live in the coastal marshes and sand dunes of the South-East, they migrate across the Bass Strait to breed in South-West Tasmania. Only three parrot species in the world are known to undertake such a lengthy migration, so I am sure that members will understand the special importance of this species, how important it is that we do not lose it and that if we were to lose it it would be quite a tragedy.

The agreement I have announced today is an excellent example of cooperation between state and local government. Under this new agreement about four hectares of known feeding and roosting habitat that the parrots call home and which was previously earmarked by the District Council of Grant will now be saved from clearance.

The council and Department of Environment and Heritage worked together when it became clear that a proposed realignment and sealing of Blackfellow's Caves Road, which is a popular tourist road near Carpenter Rocks, went through key feeding and roosting habitat of the birds. This site is especially important, given that during winter we had the first confirmed sightings of the parrot in that area for six years, members will be pleased to know.

I commend the council and its staff for being so proactive in this regard, because not only will the birds' habitat now be protected but also an alternative route has been identified for the new, safer sealed road to be constructed, and council's acknowledgement of this bird's significance played a significant part in that agreement.

It is a great example of how a win-win outcome can be achieved whereby both the local community and a threatened species both benefit. DEH staff have been working with local landholders since 2005 to protect an area of Silky Tea Tree and Cutting Grass wetland on the affected site from stock grazing. We will continue to monitor bird numbers in the area and develop appropriate habitat conservation strategies, and saving this stretch of known roosting sites is a big win for these birds and the whole community.

Protecting the orange-bellied parrot is an important part of South Australia's Strategic Plan, as part of our No Species Loss strategy. The future of our environment and preservation of our biodiversity are key priorities of this government, and I am glad that the District Council of Grant has shared our passion on this occasion.

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