Clearing of 71.5 hectares of forest including endangered possum and black cockatoo habitat for a $1.25 billion road in the South West will be allowed to go ahead after an 11th hour legal challenge put a halt to works over the weekend.
Tanya Plibersek’s department gave green light despite state of environment report finding Australia’s natural heritage is in poor and deteriorating health
In a matter of weeks, work will be able to start on the southern section of the road which will displace 72 critically endangered western ringtail possums.
The 72 possums will not be physically trapped and moved but ‘shepherded’ into neighbouring bushland for the tourist route that will likely be their death knell.