There are thousands of kangaroos and land-based fauna that are being impacted by climate change, drought, fires, floods, then we add the Human element shooting road accidents & urban development.

 Across the Perth metropolitan area, It is believed that our population will double in the next 20, to 30 years. The largest population will be based in the City of Wanneroo.

Planning legislation provides industrial, commercial, residential, agricultural horticultural and rural zones or areas. In this regard the model scheme text does not provide any inner-city “Managed Conservation Wildlife Areas” for displaced wildlife? 

Strategies for dealing with this displaced fauna is disjointed and varies across local government authority areas. Although there are some who view relocations as not viable. There have been countless examples of where if done right there has been 100% success rate, to the new relocation sites. The biggest limitation has been around access to suitable land. 

For relocation of wildlife displaced for land Clearing. There needs policy and legislative changes from all levels of government. 

We have an urgent need to relocate with regard to the old Inghams chicken farm site on Wanneroo Road who have been landlocked over two, soon to be developed sites.

Currently the contractor, Who is to conduct the relocation? Has to find land.

 Delays in finding suitable Land can hold up development and put the residential wildlife at risk. 

It takes time to capture wildlife and especially kangaroos, quenda’s and bandicoots which are all living on these sites.

 Kangaroos, can't be moved during their breeding season as success of relocation reduces significantly during this time.

Moving wildlife for relocate is stressful and most macropods will die if moved at particular times during the year.

Stress myopathy is a killer in the macropod population and is brought on by

 Noise, Stress, being moved too fast, chasing, Poor capture techniques and relocation in the wrong season.

This must be a consideration of management and planning prior to developing land. 

Offsets are regularly a requirement of developers. However, land selected and approved for offsets is often degraded and lacks food and water and is therefore of limited benefits to the displaced fauna.

land selected as approved Relocation sites under the current guidelines require to be within a limited distance from the initial clearing of land 

Therefore, often relies on the goodwill and generosity of private landowners. 

However, this makes their land unusable for future use, but land around them, gets developed and landlocking reoccurs. 

Once more Many offsets are completely unsuitable to sustain displaced fauna and would need to be revegetated before wildlife can benefit, which, again, shows a need for a wildlife management action plan well before a planning application submission. 

Rather than at the point of development.

There is an Urgent Need for governments to intervene and have a united approach to urban development that are displacing wildlife. 

 Four strategies which could be implemented are;

1.    The need for suitable offsets, which could be sourced for relocation of wildlife. From the time of initial purchase of land that is to be cleared and made ready for relocated wildlife Well, before relocation is actually needed. 

2. more responsible land allocation by governments is a must to prevent wildlife becoming landlocked within built up areas. These are animals protected by the crown yet, crown land is not made available for relocation.

3. the need for some green corridors. These are also a must for wildlife to travel to and from food and water in inner cities or developing areas, 

and finally, 

4. The need for fertility control as a means of population, reduction is a viable option that needs to be introduced immediately into Western Australia to control the landlocked kangaroo and macropod populations trapped In Bush forever sites, golf courses and where small numbers of kangaroos can be sustained on private property.

It is an ideal solution enabling the public and tourists to be able to enjoy seeing native wildlife in there wild communities and within the cities they live in. While numbers over the years, would enjoy a full circle of life, without a cull to its numbers and decimation to wildlife communities.

 Prior to relocation, fertility Control is important because it would ensure less strain on the resident kangaroo population and allow settlement in to the new relocation site, reducing the stress in the newly relocated animals over a period of time, before the breeding season begins again.

No form of fertility control on Western Gray Kangaroos is being used in WA at this time.

There are three types of non-surgical fertility control

an implant Via capture by tranquilizer dart, and manual insertion. This is more ideal in hand reared macropods or animals being immediately relocated.

A depo type of injection delivered by a dart avoiding capture, and a dye for identifying treated animals ideal for wild micropods.

 The Third is available but only on a research license.

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All last for between 18 months to three years a microchip during capture when relocation occurs can be used to ensure fertility implants don’t accidentally get repeated within the active treatment period.

Fertility control in female kangaroos, teamed with castration of a select number of hand reared male Kangaroos is the way forward to an ethical and humane reduction in the urban macropod populations as more and more land is being developed for housing and other development.

 There is going to be a continued increase in fauna, specifically, kangaroos and human interaction In some areas. 

This is evident and causing negative community sentiment as public become more, environmentally aware and the pressure to find ethical and humane solutions for displaced wildlife has become a priority for government.

There is an increase in community awareness and dissatisfaction at the disjointed approach currently in place across the metropolitan area.

Which provides an ideal opportunity for the City of Wanneroo as local government to work together with all levels of government, government- departments and wildlife rescue networks in a coordinated manner.

The city of Wanneroo is rapidly expanding and will displace. Hundreds of hectares of land over the next 20 years and are well placed to take a lead on this.

 Therefore, I hope you will support me in consideration for urgently needed fertility, control in WA, and to find suitable, relocation sites for wildlife, especially our macropod and wildlife populations affected by forced land clearance and development. 

Thank you

Jacqui Huntley

Cr City of Wanneroo