Western Power is undertaking activities to support native fauna as part of bushfire resilience enhancement work across the network.
The activities will help preserve habitat for threatened black cockatoo species like the red-tailed black cockatoo, Baudin’s black cockatoo and Carnaby’s black cockatoo.
Western Power’s Executive Manager of People Jo Christie said fauna management is a key consideration before undertaking any work on the network.
“A recent bushfire risk assessment identified some assets across the network that required some maintenance, including clearing vegetation around our infrastructure to enhance bushfire resilience,” Ms Christie said.
“Before we commence any work, our teams conduct a fauna survey to look for evidence of significant species and identify high-quality foraging habitat, breeding trees and hollows suitable to support them.
“In this case, we identified 10 mature Marri trees as potential black cockatoo breeding trees within the proposed clearing area and so we’ve made sure to incorporate the retention of these trees into the project.”
Through a new partnership with Kaarakin Black Cockatoo Conservation Centre, the project team were also able to find a new home for some of the cleared materials.
“The team have arranged for the donation of trees and branches that will be used as perches and grass trees that will be used as browse material and source of food for the rescued cockatoos at Kaarakin,” Ms Christie said.
“Kaarakin are the only facility dedicated to the conservation and rehabilitation of wild native black cockatoos in Australia. They do amazing work rescuing and rehabilitating sick and injured black cockatoos in distress so it’s wonderful to be able to support them through the donation of this material.”
The project builds on Western Power’s commitment to protect and conserve the natural environment we operate in.
"Protecting the environment while we carry out our work is part of our values and retaining native fauna habitat is a key part of that,” Ms Christie said.
