‘Necessary’; Burnie penguins trapped inside beach development

Burnie Council has described footage from local residents as “extremely unfortunate” after penguins caught in development fencing emerges online. Watch the video.

Burnie Council will modify fencing to some of its Coastal Pathway development sites following distressing photos and videos emerging online of penguins stuck in project fencing.

Burnie resident Andy Barnes took to social media last week to share photos and footage of penguins at Cooee Beach she claims are being impacted by the Coastal Pathway rock revetment works, which began in March this year.

Seven rock walls are being constructed along beaches between Burnie and Wynyard to prevent onshore erosion, yet significant vegetation clearing is required to complete this work.

A Little Penguin trapped inside development fencing at Cooee Beach, Burnie. Picture: Supplied.

This vegetation is often where penguins in the Burnie area create burrows and move between the shore vegetation and beach to forage.

“Large sections of the habitat the penguins nest in has been gutted to put up rocks to support the coastal pathway,” Ms Barnes said.

“I was concerned when I saw how much habitat had been destroyed, then a resident sent me an images of the penguin they found on Sunday at 2pm, which had likely had been stuck like that since at least dawn, if not the night prior.”

Ms Barnes said when she went down to check out the works at the beach, she noticed wire fencing had been put up where the rock wall had been constructed, she believes in an attempt to prevent penguins from climbing the rocks and onto the road.

“There are little penguin tracks going up and down the inside of the fence, with penguins obviously trapped inside the area that can’t get out to swim or feed,” she said.

“I’m worried about the ones enclosed in the area, most likely starving to death.”

Little Penguins near Burnie's Coastal Pathway development. Picture: supplied.

Local Penguin Rehab and Release president Kathy Grieveson said it was “wonderful” residents were concerned about the penguin’s wellbeing, but that works would only be temporary.

“The fencing is necessary for the development until penguin mesh can be placed to prevent penguins from running on to nearby roads,” she said.

“The current fencing probably isn’t well-suited for penguins, but was necessary to allow the tide to flow in and out on the beach, without creating any blockages.

“The new revetments and vegetation will provide a far better habitat and environment to care for our penguins, it’s just a matter of time.”

Burnie Council’s operations director Damien Aherne said in an ABC Radio interview on Monday that the incident was “extremely unfortunate”, with the protection of penguins a top priority during the Coastal Pathway project.

The development area at Cooee Beach, Burnie. Picture: supplied.

“It’s a fine line when you’re working so close to penguin habitat of doing construction and ensuring the safety of the penguins,” he said.

General Manager Simon Overland confirmed that Burnie Council would replace its temporary fencing to a mesh with smaller holes to prevent “little Penguins pushing through the wire”.

Mr Overland also affirmed that council’s had developed a strict Little Penguin Management Plan (LPMP) for the Coastal Pathway project to “ensure the wellbeing of penguins”, which includes the clearing of vegetation under strict supervision of a penguin ecologist and requirements for pre-start checks to environments prior to commencement of works every day.