Better protection for Lillico’s much-loved penguins

Michelle O'Byrne, MP

Minister for Environment, Parks, Heritage and the Arts

Thursday, 25 September 2008


Better protection for Lillico’s much-loved penguins

A new viewing platform at Lillico Beach will help give better protection to the much loved North West Coast penguin colony as well as an enhanced visitor experience.

The Minister for the Environment, Parks, Heritage and the Arts, Michelle O’Byrne said today the improvements are the result of a long term partnership between the Friends of Lillico Penguins and the Parks and Wildlife Service.

There are more than 5000 people who use the viewing platform each year to catch a glimpse of the penguins coming in to land.

“For more than 20 years, the Friends group has looked after the penguins at the Lillico Beach Conservation Area, a coastal reserve only six kilometres west of Devonport on the busy Bass Highway,” Ms O’Byrne said.

“This group must be one of the most dedicated wildlife carers groups in Tasmania.”

The Friends group patrols the beach every evening from October to March to look after the welfare of the penguins. They also help with maintenance of the site and provide a free interpretation service for visitors, engaging with visitors to talk about how to view the penguins safely.

Ms O’Byrne said improvements at Lillico Beach viewing platform include new welcome and interpretive signs, planting of native species, landscaping works to improve penguin access and re-design of the car park to reduce headlight glare into the penguin colony.

Thirty new penguin nesting boxes were constructed and 10 of these have been placed in the colony to date.

Two new specialist viewing scopes will further enhance the opportunities for visitors to see other wildlife such as sea birds and whales and dolphins.

A remote camera will be placed in penguin burrows to provide a more intimate look at penguin activities and the viewing scopes and the burrow camera will be connected to a viewing screen at the visitor platform.

Ms O’Byrne said the Parks and Wildlife Service is undertaking a statewide program to improve wildlife viewing experiences in Tasmania.

“Lillico is a significant site because it offers visitors the opportunity to view penguins up close in a natural environment,” she said.

Lillico Beach penguin viewing is one of the activities supported by PWS’s annual Discovery Ranger Program and features in the Department of Environment, Parks, Heritage and the Arts Tasmania’s Discoveries Guide.

Courtesy of a news release from the Tasmania Government:

http://www.media.tas.gov.au/release.php?id=24866

Image courtesy of Flickr:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/8332387@N02/883464455/