Concerns for nesting eagle with core drilling at prison site to start mid-breeding season

Plans to begin core drilling at the proposed Northern Regional Prison site at Brushy Rivulet have sparked fears for a wedge-tailed eagle that might be nesting nearby.

• Map of Government’s new preferred Northern Prison site causes concern among residents
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ENVIRONMENTALISTS and prison opponents have called on Roger Jaensch to step in and stop planned core drilling works near a wedge-tailed eagle’s nest due to start on Monday, mid-breeding season.

However a Department of Justice spokesman said the environment minister’s department approved the works at the proposed Northern Regional Prison bush site at Brushy Rivulet.

A drilling rig and a water truck will be among the heavy equipment involved in two weeks of geotechnical investigation works at the Crown bush block.

Samples of soil, clay and rock will be taken from eight core holes and analysed as part of the DoJ’s assessment of the site’s suitability for a 275 bed maximum security prison development.

The spokesman said an environmental consultant had advised the DoJ and no drilling would occur within the 500m no disturbance zone surrounding the nest and no issues were raised.

He said the planned work was designed under the assumption the nest was being used and was not in the line of sight of the nest.

Environmentalists, the Greens and prison opponent groups say the works pose a risk to the endangered species and would breach the Forest Practices Code’s 1km ‘line of site’ guideline.

Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary director Greg Irons said it “makes no sense” that the government would risk the habitat of endangered wildlife.

Director and owner of Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary, Greg Irons. Picture: Zak Simmonds

He said the 500m and 1km Forest Practices guidelines were not best practice.

“They are minimum guidelines based on Forest Practices, not drilling,” he said.

“This is the single worst time of year to risk any form of disturbance to them.”

Mr Irons said eagles use their nests “generation after generation”.

“Once disturbed a couple of times, that’s it.”

Greens MP Rosalie Woodruff said there was “no way to justify” the drilling.

“There are fewer than 1000 eagles in Tasmania and to prevent them heading to extinction, the government has to take a precautionary approach,” she said.

“This magnificent bird needs every chance it can get to breed successfully.”

Greens MP Rosalie Woodruff during question time in state parliament. Picture: Zak Simmonds

Dr Woodruff said the government was ignoring its own departmental advice which warned against disturbing a nesting eagle during breeding season.

The Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment’s species management profile for the wedge-tailed eagle says visible or audible disturbance to a nesting eagle can cause it to abandon its eggs or chicks.

It says: “If a nesting eagle perceives a disturbance as a threat, even from hundreds of meters away … it may desert its nest site for years and long after the disturbance has ceased.”

Westbury Residents Against the Prison president Linda Poulton chants 'no prison' at a community meeting regarding the Government's new preferred prison site at Bushy Rivulet on Birralee Rd. Picture: PATRICK GEE

Community group Westbury Residents Against the prison has accused the government of intentionally trying to drive off eagles in the area to pave a way for the prison.

“The government has deliberately chosen peak breeding season to undertake exploratory sub-

surface drilling (on) Monday,” said WRAP president Linda Poulton.

“It must know from DPIPWE’s own guidelines that this would have potentially long-lasting impacts on the eagles’ use of the nest.”

Landowners with property nearby to the prison site were notified of the drilling.

Wedge-tailed eagle breeding season ends in February.