Wherever and whenever possible we work to ensure we are protecting WA’s native flora and fauna across the SWIS.
From minimising the chance of spreading damaging diseases like dieback (see our WA-first internal Green Card certification program) to protecting existing wildlife or re-locating when essential, protecting WA's unique landscapes within and during the operation of the south- west electricity network is vitally important.
Aboriginal heritage, community and environmental values are key priorities and this includes commitments to rigorous environmental impact assessments.
One of the ways we are working to minimise our impact on the environment is through surveying flora and fauna.
How flora and fauna are considered
We proactively work across our operations to minimise our potential to negatively affect natural habitat, particularly that of threatened or endangered species.
When a potential project is identified, Western Power’s Environmental, Safety and Planning Assessment Team undertake preliminary desktop assessments of any environment, heritage and planning constraints associated with the program of works.
The early assessment assists the project team to narrow down options by identifying areas with high environmental values and enable design changes to avoid key locations and reduce the environmental impact where possible.
Once the preliminary investigations are complete, the team engages environmental consultants to undertake flora, fauna and vegetation surveys. Usually zoologists or biologists, these experts collaborate with us to move through the area, looking for signs of significant fauna or flora species and threatened ecological communities, and map areas based on their ecological significance (e.g. whether they are cleared and degraded and likely to attract non-native or feral/pest species, or contain high-quality vegetation with suitable habitat for native species).
Flora surveys generally take place in spring to more easily identify notable plants and habitats in their growth phase. Fauna surveys can occur into the summer months in order to provide the greatest possible chance of locating key species like the Forest Red-tailed Black Cockatoo, Baudin’s Cockatoo and Carnaby’s Cockatoo, and any potential nesting trees while the species are most active.
The experts also look out for high-quality foraging habitat, breeding trees and hollows suitable to support key species.
FAQs
If a survey finds evidence of conservation significant fauna species or threatened ecological communities, Western Power has an obligation under the State’s Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 and the Commonwealths Environment Protection and Biodiversity Act 1999 to report the occurrences to the Department of Biodiversity, Conservations and Attractions and the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, respectively.
Once the survey results are received, we complete an Environmental Impact Assessment to determine the overall impact and appropriate approval pathway depending on the scale of the project and the legislative requirements.
Our team also takes this opportunity to recommend additional opportunities and make changes to proposed designs where technically possible to reduce our impacts.
Flora, fauna and vegetation surveys take place very early in the scoping phase. This does not mean any project work will be undertaken, it merely is an assessment of what the landscape is like.
In many circumstances, multiple surveys in different areas are done to identify the best possible outcomes for the community and the environment.
If a survey is taking place on or adjacent to your land, we will communicate and work with you throughout the process to keep you informed, including working around key periods like shearing/lambing and harvest seasons wherever practical when accessing properties on farming operations.
Contact us for more information about surveys taking place in your area.