Managers of the Eagles' new Lathlain Park development project have revealed six-year-old data was used to deny the presence of black cockatoos at the site, despite residents repeatedly pointing to evidence of the protected species.
The site was cleared of 98 of its trees last August in preparation for the training facility development now progressing, for which the paperwork tells a different story to the results of a citizen science project conducted over the past three months.
Project manager Urbis has now confirmed the environmental study submitted to the Town of Victoria Park was based on historical data collated in a "desktop review".
Throughout the process residents have voiced distress to the Eagles and council about perceived impacts to the population of a threatened species of black cockatoos, pleading for information about the Eagles' commissioned study and for the town to conduct its own.
They have now conducted their own survey which directly contradicts the report's findings, as the Town and Eagles continue to describe the development as community-focused and consultative.
Urbis said the "desktop" study used habitat mapping from 2011, annual reports from the Great Cocky Count, and "database information".
The 2011 mapping, apart from being seven years old, appears to be specific to Carnaby's black cockatoos, while the birds observed roosting at the site are predominantly forest red-tails.
While the Great Cocky Count annual reports also used in the desktop study have not confirmed any Lathlain Park roost in recent years, Birdlife Australia was "not surprised" by alternative reports.
"It could have been a roost for years and they just haven't been there on the night of the Count," Carnaby's black cockatoo project coordinator Adam Peck said.
Residents have made repeated attempts to communicate their observations of a roost at the site both through letters to the Eagles and communications with the council.
Residents made public submissions voicing concerns about observations of cockatoos at the site ahead of the council's consideration of its recommendation to the WA Planning Commission in June.
On the night the council met to determine this recommendation, residents again asked for a stay of proceedings pending a new study, but the council recommended approval without this requirement.
Desperate residents then called a Special Meeting of Electors in July, passing motions including that council should try to stay proceedings pending an "independent and rigorous assessment".
Council staff reassured them that the Planning Commission, and the federal Department of the Environment, would assess any black cockatoo impacts.
Residents say they have conducted regular surveys, obeying accepted guidelines, showing roosting activity. Photo: Supplied
But the Planning Commission gave approval on August 9, with its only reference to black cockatoos a note of the applicant's responsibility to refer the matter to the federal government if necessary.
Federal law states a project involving clearing or degradation, including pruning the top canopy, of a known night roosting site, carries a "high risk" and should trigger a referral.
A body corporate that fails to act on a trigger can be liable for a civil penalty of up to $9 million.
But West Coast says its environmental study did not trigger referral.
The federal government has told WAtoday it had "reviewed information" and was satisfied with this, but residents remain concerned the information officially recorded to date remains incomplete.
A resident's photograph. Photo: Supplied
Clearing took place almost immediately after the approval, with residents saying they continued to photograph cockatoos at the site until this occurred.
She and a team of local volunteers living by the park have completed regular surveys from January to March, in accordance with Curtin guidelines, collecting extensive paper and digital records that they have emailed to councillors.
They say they consistently count 35-50 forest red-tailed black cockatoos roosting at night and are also recording evidence of significant cockatoo foraging activity.
Ms Treasure said the roost was known by locals to have been in place for 40 years. She said assessing data from 2011, and the Great Cocky Count's one night a year of counting, was inadequate when residents had continually attempted to alert the Eagles and council to additional information.
"Even reduced in number by the loss of habitat last year this is a significant roost," she said.
A resident's photograph. Photo: Supplied
"In the counts I have completed at Curtin I have seen as many as 100 birds and sometimes none - that is the nature of the count and the reason it should be conducted regularly."
But the council has told residents it is satisfied with the Eagles' environmental study and with its fulfilment of its own obligations.
It has indicated its own investigations of the matter also encompassed Great Cocky Count information and the 2011 mapping.
"The town's 'Renew Life' director Warren Bow said the town had no statutory obligation to undertake a cockatoo survey.
"We have listened to the community and engaged with relevant government and non-government agencies on the matter. The Town has taken steps to minimise impacts to cockatoos that may frequent the site including limiting the removal of trees from site, limiting the degree of maintenance pruning to the remaining trees on site, funding bird breeding boxes to be placed on site and planting replacement trees within the Town that act as a food source for cockatoos.
"The Town believes there is significant, continuing and broader community support for the Lathlain Precinct Redevelopment Project."
Meanwhile, residents say their survey throws the project's design and approvals into doubt, particularly with regard to a car park planned adjacent to the claimed roost, lighting towers and netting behind goals, and have sought legal advice.
They also say a recent application and approval given for 14 trees at the roosting site to be pruned and thinned - to ensure their shade does not impede oval turf growth - will further disturb black cockatoos.
Clearing took place straight after approval, with the pressure on to get the Eagles settled in quickly. Photo: Emma Young
Mayor Trevor Vaughan says the "minor" works will affect up to 10 per cent of the canopy of 14 trees, five of which already needed this work for health management, and there was no evidence of a roost at the site but such work would not impact habitat in any case.
He said there would be checks undertaken for nesting birds in accordance with standard practice.
Local MP and new state Treasurer Ben Wyatt has also written to the Town to request the pruning be delayed, at least until after the approaching 2017 Great Cocky Count in April.
New state treasurer Ben Wyatt, the local MP, has written to the Town in concern. Photo: Supplied
An Urbis spokeswoman said the environmental study reviewed the tree species on site and the Carnaby's Black Cockatoo Habitat Value associated with each, in line with state guidelines.
"Tree species with a roosting value (low) were identified and were not part of the pruning works undertaken," she said.
"Development taking place within the lease boundary, including light towers and car parking facilities, will not impact any tree species identified as having roosting value. There are existing light towers already in place, as is the playing surface. We also believe the netting will protect birds from potential impacts from training activity."
The Eagles did not respond to a request for comment.
