New project to protect Gilbert’s Potoroo

A key mainland population of the threatened Gilbert’s Potoroo at Mount Gardner near Albany is set to benefit from $248,140 in funding thanks to the Federal Government’s Threatened Species Strategy Action Plan.

Federal Member for O’Connor Rick Wilson MP said the funding would help the Gilberts Potoroo Action Group to control feral predators to reduce pressure on newly introduced potoroos.

“A feral predator surveillance program will also be initiated to monitor the effectiveness of the project,” Mr Wilson said.

“This funding shows the Federal Government is sincerely concerned about protecting Western Australia’s threatened species.

“I applaud the work of the Gilberts Potoroo Action Group, which has been instrumental in bringing the potoroo back from the brink.”

Minister for the Environment Sussan Ley said conservation and restoration projects across Australia have been allocated a share of $12 million funding through the $100 million Environment Restoration Fund.

“The successful projects span all states and territories and will deliver practical action on the ground to protect more than 60 priority threatened species,” Minister Ley said.

“These community-led activities will help improve the trajectory of our most precious native wildlife with a range of flow-on benefits for other species that share the same habitat.

Minister Ley said the projects would also drive forward action under the Government’s recently announced Threatened Species Strategy Action Plan, which sets a pathway to coordinate practical conservation efforts for our threatened species.”

Media contact: Chris Thomson | (08) 9842 2777 | chris.thomson@aph.gov.au

Authorised by Rick Wilson, WA Liberal Party, 101 Albany Highway, Albany, 6330.