09 May STATEMENT
Aussie Ark provides the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water with an Enforceable Undertaking
Thursday – 9 May, 2024
Aussie Ark has provided the New South Wales Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water with an Enforceable Undertaking which has resulted in a mutually agreed resolution to Local Court proceedings commenced by the Department against Aussie Ark on 6 December 2023.
Aussie Ark has been committed to saving Australian threatened species from extinction and in March 2021 and July 2021 Aussie Ark had made licence applications to the Department to establish captive breeding insurance populations of the Giant Barred Frog, the Bell’s Turtle, and the Broad-toothed Rat. Before the licence applications had been approved, Aussie Ark collected 10 Giant Barred Frogs, 7 Bell’s Turtles and 6 Broad-toothed Rats.
The Department charged Aussie Ark with a number of offences against section 2.1(1)(a) of the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016, alleging that Aussie Ark harmed animals (by capturing them without a licence) belonging to the threatened species of the Giant Barred Frog, the Bells River Turtle and the Broad-toothed Rat in December 2021 and May 2022.
Aussie Ark acknowledges that the collection of those animals without a licence was likely to have constituted offences under the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016.
Aussie Ark has now given an undertaking to the Department that it will not collect animals without a licence if a licence is required. It will develop procedural safeguards to ensure this will not occur again, and it will deliver various compliance training sessions and educational sessions in relation to the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016. Aussie Ark has also agreed to pay the Department $50,000 which NPWS will use to support threatened species conservation in NSW national parks.
At all times the conservation and safeguarding of Australian species has been, and remains Aussie Ark’s focus and priority and Aussie Ark remains resolute in its commitment to conservation. Aussie Ark recognises the importance of compliance with the Biodiversity Conservation Act and is committed to ensuring ongoing compliance through training and broader education and presentation to other institutions and community groups.
Aussie Ark has now obtained licences for the Giant Barred Frog, the Bell’s Turtle and the Broad-toothed Rat.
Aussie Ark is excited and relieved to put this chapter behind it and work with the New South Wales Government Departments in a collaborative way to ensure a brighter future for NSW imperilled species.