Rare trapdoor spider saved
Release Date: 13 December 2007
Western Power is redirecting the construction of a new power line in the wheat belt to save the habitat of a rare trapdoor spider.
Whilst inspecting the planned route for a private line through Korrelocking, Western Power discovered the route would impact on the habitat of the endangered Tree-Stem Trapdoor Spider.
Western Power's senior environmental officer Craig Morgan said when the species was discovered along the route Western Power acted to save the spider.
"Because this endangered species is so important, the line was redesigned and moved away from the spider's habitat," Mr Morgan said.
The preservation of the spider's habitat will include undergrounding the line for 700 metres along the Merredin - Wyalkatchem road and an additional 500 metres of overhead line. The extra cost of $90,000 to divert the line around the spider's habitat will be entirely funded by Western Power.
"Although the new line is a customer funded project, the preservation of the spider is important to Western Power's environmental policy, so we will meet the costs of the preservation," Mr Morgan said.
"Western Power continues to balance the need for environmental sensitivity with the demands for new electrical infrastructure by helping to preserve the endangered spider," he added.
Construction of the line will begin in early 2008.
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