We must stop removing trees and increase density of premises on blocks to conserve wildlife. Labor destroyed cockatoo habitat for Trainline!
This guideline applies in areas where black cockatoos or black cockatoo habitat occurs in WA. If you propose to take an action that has, will have or is likely to have a significant impact on black cockatoos, you must refer the proposed action to the Minister prior to commencing the action. The Minister will then decide within 20 business days whether assessment is required under the EPBC Act. When making a decision on whether a proposed action requires assessment, the Minister must consider all relevant information and act in a manner consistent with natural justice and procedural fairness obligations.
An action that will have or is likely to have a significant impact on black cockatoos must not commence until the Minister makes an approval decision. Substantial penalties apply for undertaking such an action without Commonwealth approval (civil penalties up to $8.5 million or criminal penalties including up to seven years imprisonment). More information on the referral, assessment and approval process is available at www.environment.gov.au/epbc/assessments/index.html. Information on compliance and enforcement of the EPBC Act can be found at www.environment.gov.au/epbc/compliance/index.html.
The criteria used to judge significant impact for Vulnerable and Endangered threatened species are listed in the Significant impact guidelines 1.1. The criteria in the significant impact guidelines refer to ‘populations’ and ‘important populations’. These terms have not been defined for black cockatoos, due to the mobile and widely-dispersed nature of these species, and the variation in flock compositions (for example, between breeding and non-breeding seasons). For black cockatoos, it is more appropriate to consider significance in terms of impacts on habitat and individuals rather than a resident population.