Probe into claims platypus burrow destroyed by council contractors

Conservationists claim that contractors working for the local council have destroyed a platypus burrow while undertaking remediation works in Tasmania's north. The area has frequently experienced flooding, and the works were intended to prevent future erosion. However, local residents are concerned that the removal of trees may have led to the death of one or several platypuses nesting in the burrow beneath the felled trees.

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On Monday evening I spotted a platypus going into that burrow under that tree that was tipped over on Tuesday morning. When it came back on Tuesday the tree had been demolished and presumably so had the burrow.

Meander Valley mayor Wayne Johnston stated that the council had obtained all necessary environmental approvals from the Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania (NRE Tas). When contacted, NRE Tas confirmed awareness of the report and indicated an active investigation is underway, declining further comment. Conservationists believe the work site is home to several platypuses.

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The platypus in the burrow may have been killed, if it was asleep in its burrow when the heavy machinery rumbled over the top of the den, the vibrations would have killed the animal. They have very sensitive bills for detecting prey with electroreception.

Deloraine resident Anne Gilles, who has monitored platypus numbers along the Meander River for eight years, reported seeing a platypus enter the burrow on Monday evening. By Tuesday morning, the tree above the burrow had been demolished. Gilles fears the platypus may have been killed if it was inside the burrow when construction machinery operated, suggesting the vibrations could have harmed the sensitive animal. She acknowledged the importance of the remediation but believes the council was misinformed about the absence of active burrows.

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This is just like death by a thousand cuts, it's one less tree, it's one less platypus. One day we're going to wake up and we're going to say, 'oh, we used to have platypus in the Meander River, I wonder what happened to them.'

"This is just like death by a thousand cuts, it's one less tree, it's one less platypus," Gilles lamented. "One day we're going to wake up and we're going to say, 'oh, we used to have platypus in the Meander River, I wonder what happened to them.'" Platypus tourism is noted as being significant for Deloraine. Mayor Johnston expressed confidence that the burrow was not affected but conceded, "I don't know for sure."

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I understand there's some community conversation out there about how we may be damaging platypus habitat, but again, this was ticked off by (NRE Tas