Police premises plan puts rare penguin colony in peril

A CONTROVERSIAL police convention centre has been approved despite fears it will damage the state's only mainland breeding colony of little penguins. Source: The Daily Telegraph

Police premises plan puts rare penguin colony in peril

* By Mal Holland, Environment Reporter
* From: The Daily Telegraph
* July 11, 2009 12:00AM

A CONTROVERSIAL police convention centre has been approved despite fears it will damage the state's only mainland breeding colony of little penguins. Source: The Daily Telegraph

A CONTROVERSIAL police convention centre has been approved despite fears it will damage the state's only mainland breeding colony of little penguins.

The endangered penguins make their nests along a cliff line bordering the $21 million redevelopment by the Australian Federal Police at Spring Cove on Sydney's North Head.

The penguin colony has already suffered after eight birds were killed in two separate attacks in the past two weeks in Manly, apparently by the same dog.

Environmentalists said the 1.7ha redevelopment, which includes 55 hotel suites, a convention hall and 47 car spaces, is inappropriate for a sensitive area.

Environment Minister Peter Garrett approved the redevelopment despite his department's report revealing run-off and noise from building activity could affect the colony of 60 breeding pairs.

"This is devastating. The penguins are already under such pressure - they don't need this," Manly Environment Centre's Angelika Treichler said yesterday.

"How can you approve what is really just a hotel for police, or anyone else who books it, when it's right on top of our only breeding colony of little penguins?"

Endangered long-nosed bandicoots also live beside the site.

Mr Garrett said the redevelopment would go ahead with seven new conditions placed on it to protect the penguins and bandicoots.

Source:
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/police-premises-plan-puts-rare-penguin-colony-in-peril/story-e6freuy9-1225748412298