State Government scraps discovery centre plans to protect Rockingham's little penguins

Plans to build a discovery centre on Penguin Island have been scrapped by the State Government in an effort to protect the already declining little penguin colony off Rockingham’s coast. Environment Minister Reece Whitby said the centre would not go ahead after feedback from the City of Rockingham, local tourism operators and researchers. The project will be moved to a more suitable location and the State Government has offered an additional $150,000 to support ongoing research in WA and the protection of the little penguin colony. The city voted in March to not support the development application due to concerns about its impact on the health of the little penguin population. “The city has long advocated for measures to be taken to protect the health and welfare of the little penguins on Penguin Island,” mayor Deb Hamblin said. “The city acknowledges the importance of a sustainable population of little penguins on the island and looks forward to working with the State Government to ensure that they continue to be a significant tourism attraction.” Dawn Jecks, convenor of the Save Rockingham’s Little Penguins campaign, said it was the “best decision” the Environment Minister and the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions could have made. “It is so heartening that they have listened to scientists, the community, the council, and tourism operators on this,” she said. Ms Jecks also welcomed the new conservation measures that will be introduced to help the little penguins on particularly hot days and at sensitive times in their life cycle, as well as funding for new research. “We now urge the Minister and the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions to work with researchers to introduce more science-based measures to help the little penguins,” she said. “A comprehensive suite of conservation measures will be needed to halt the decline and help the population build again so that our kids and grandkids can enjoy the little penguins of Penguin Island for many years to come.”