Animals airlifted to make way for Gorgon

Nearly 1,000 threatened mammals will be airlifted from Barrow Island to the mainland to make way for the planned $43 billion Gorgon gas project.

Environment Minister Donna Faragher today said the state government's translocation project is one of the biggest ever undertaken in the country.

Up to 500 golden bandicoots, 170 boodies, 140 spectacle hare wallabies and 140 possums will be transferred to one of three locations; the Montebello Islands which is 30km north of Barrow Island, the Cape Range National Park near Exmouth or Lorna Glen in central WA.

The translocation project is part of an offset program managed by the Department of Environment and Conservation and funded by project operator Chevron. The project is linked to the environmental approvals for the Gorgon operation.