Rockingham councillors ask for more time before penguin discovery centre built

The City of Rockingham has unanimously voted to reject the WA Government’s proposal for a new penguin information centre. The decision was made at last Tuesday’s council meeting and will form part of a recommendation to the WA Planning Commission, which will make the final decision on whether the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions Parks’ proposal will proceed or not. The DBCA wants to build a new penguin information centre on Penguin Island to replace the existing facility, which — according to the Department — is nearing the end of its service life. Councillors have opposed these plans because they believe there has not yet been a thorough evaluation of issues that could affect the already declining little penguin colony. They want the State Government to delay building the new facility to allow time for proper consultation between scientists and locals, including where the best location for it is. Mayor Deb Hamblin said the council made the decision not to support the application based on several concerns. “The city has long advocated for measures to be taken by DBCA to adequately protect the little penguin population on Penguin Island and recent expert industry research has shown little penguin numbers have continued to decline at a rapid rate” Ms Hamblin said. “Inadequate information was provided to the city to evaluate the full impact of the proposed new penguin information centre on the little penguin population.” “Given the proposal is likely to have an impact on the penguin population, that formal public consultation by DBCA has not been carried out, and that a coastal hazard risk management and adaptation plan assessment hasn’t been carried out for the proposed development, council was unanimously of the view that the WAPC should not approve this application.” Save Rockingham’s Little Penguins campaign convener Dawn Jecks thanked councillors for backing the little penguin colony. “The State Government wants to barrel ahead with this poorly-planned construction on Penguin Island in just six months without even understanding the impacts it will have on the remaining population of little penguins,” Ms Jecks said. “The best outcome for the future of this colony is to build a penguin discovery centre on the mainland and help the remaining colony recover with a suite of conservation measures that can include more island closures.”