An endangered bandicoot colony may no longer be protected by Council rules when the Sydenham to Bankstown corridor gets developed

WORKS along the Sydenham to Bankstown train line corridor could spell the end for an endangered colony of bandicoots.

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ONE of only two recognised endangered colonies of bandicoots in Sydney is under threat of being wiped out by works to the planned Sydenham to Bankstown train line.

Plans for the train line, expected to create opportunities for more homes, jobs, better public spaces, shops and cafes along the corridor, are developing at a rapid pace around Dulwich Hill and the Save Dully Action Group says the future of the bandicoot colony has not been factored into the planning process.

Dulwich Hill is home to just one of two recognised endangered colonies of bandicoots in Sydney.

Jessica D'Arienzo from the Save Dully Action Group on the path by the Light rail station in Dulwich Hill's Biodiversity corridor — home to a population of bandicoots. Picture: John Appleyard

These bandicoots — which are small marsupials up to 40cm long — are known to use the underfloor areas of older homes and backyards for habitat, along with light and heavy rail corridor.

Marrickville Council has two planning controls to help protect the bandicoot: a mapped biodiversity corridor in its NSW Government-approved local environmental plan and a bandicoot protection area in its council-approved development control plan.

Before approving developments in the biodiversity corridor, the council must consider whether the developments will have an impact on local biodiversity — including the bandicoot.

But these rules may not apply if the Government’s plans go ahead, and Jessica DArienzo, a spokeswoman for the Save Dully Action Group, said she thought it was unfair that, “while residents are required to modify minor home extensions to protect Dulwich Hill’s endangered bandicoot population, developers could destroy large swathes of the native animal’s habitat across the suburb”.

Jessica D'Arienzo says someone should be thinking about the bandicoots. Picture: John Appleyard

“Despite this, urban renewal plans released for Dulwich Hill as part of the Sydenham to Bankstown corridor seek to rezone at least eleven blocks of low-density residential land where

planning controls are in place to protect bandicoots,” she said.

“The plans give inadequate consideration to bandicoot protection.

“The plans do not once specifically mention the local population of endangered bandicoots and also do not show the council’s biodiversity or bandicoot protection areas on its development constraints map.

“This is not good enough — effectively our local bandicoot population is being wiped off the map.

“We feel the lack of focus on our local biodiversity is another reason these plans are poorly prepared and have excessive impact.”

The draft Sydenham to Bankstown Corridor Strategy will see plenty of changes.

The Save Dully Action Group are a vocal community group in the area.

A spokeswoman from the Department of Planning and Environment said that the draft Sydenham to Bankstown Corridor Strategy is just a vision for the area for the next two decades, and is the first step in the planning process.

“All environmental and ecological matters will be taken into account before any future rezoning along the Sydenham to Bankstown corridor,” she said.

“A series of community design workshops are being held in the near future, with the Department planning to invite councils and community groups to work in teams with planners from the Department on ideas for the future of the precincts.”

Meanwhile, Environment Minister Mark Speakman is urging Sydneysiders to help protect the bandicoots, as part of joint project undertaken by the University of Sydney, the Office of Environment and Heritage and Transport for NSW.

Mr Speakman has announced a six month survey and study to collect information about the colony of bandicoots and raise the community’s awareness of the existence of this endangered population.