[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/6″ offset=”vc_col-lg-1/5 vc_col-md-1/5 vc_col-xs-1/5″][us_image image=”81825″ size=”thumbnail” align=”left” style=”circle” has_ratio=”1″][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/12″ offset=”vc_col-lg-4/5 vc_col-md-4/5 vc_col-xs-4/5″][vc_column_text]By Annette Madjarian[/vc_column_text][us_post_date][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Hornsby Shire Council will lobby the NSW Government for “standards to ensure native wildlife found on development sites are given the best possible chance of survival” in a move that could put Council at the “forefront of protecting wildlife”.
A motion submitted by Hornsby Shire Greens Councillor Tania Salitra (pictured) was passed at Council’s recent September meeting, asking Local Government NSW to lobby the State Government to:
1. In conjunction with industry associations, introduce enforceable standards for the preparation of flora and fauna management plans.
2. Consider Codes of Practice and Guidelines for handling native wildlife and other best practice and animal welfare laws in development of the standards.
3. Consult with Councils, National Parks and Wildlife Service, Ecological Consultants Association of NSW, wildlife rescue organisations and other relevant agencies in the preparation of the standards.
Councillor Salitra said the introduction of standards would remove personal opinion and subjective analysis and provide “certainty and consistency in the assessment process for applicants and community”.
She said by removing ambiguity, these standards would assist Council planning departments when they were assessing Development Applications.
“We need effective guidelines and standards to ensure thorough checking of tree hollows so scared, bunkered down native wildlife are not sent through the chipper to be shredded alive; injured animals receive appropriate veterinarian care; and uninjured animals are relocated using already established protocols,” she said.
“Legislating standards for wildlife on development sites will provide certainty for all stakeholders – the applicants, ecologists, developers, wildlife carers and our community,” she added. The motion will be put forward for consideration at the 2022 Local Government NSW Annual Conference from 23th-25th October in the Hunter Valley.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
