Deloraine Platypus Burrow Destroyed in Council Flood Works; Investigation Underway July 25

Contractors working on flood prevention for Meander Valley Council in northern Tasmania may have destroyed a platypus burrow on the Meander River this week. Local conservationist Anne Gilles, who has logged 2,000 platypus sightings over an 800-metre stretch in eight years, says she spotted a platypus entering the burrow Monday evening before excavation began Tuesday morning. The Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania is now investigating, while the council says it obtained all necessary environmental approvals.

What happened at the Deloraine work site

On Tuesday morning, contractors used an excavator to remove trees and stabilise the riverbank as part of flood prevention works. The area sits on the Meander River near Deloraine, about 50 kilometres west of Launceston. Local residents are concerned the removal of trees may have killed one or several platypus potentially nesting in the burrow below where trees were torn down.

The evidence conservationists presented

Anne Gilles, who monitors platypus for the Australian Platypus Monitoring Network and the Tasmanian Platypus Conservation Group, documented the burrow’s exact location before work began. She saw a platypus entering the burrow Monday evening. “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,” she said. Wildlife photographer Joy Kachina claims the burrow was located right in the centre of where the works occurred.

Council’s response and investigation status

Meander Valley mayor Wayne Johnston said the council obtained all necessary environmental approvals from the Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania. He stated the council has “received allegations regarding possible disturbance of platypus habitat” and is “currently reviewing the matter”. The state environment department confirmed the matter is under active investigation but could not comment further. The council said it has not yet reached conclusions about whether a burrow was present or disturbed.

Why platypus matter to Deloraine

Platypus are a major tourist drawcard for the small town. Gilles described them as Deloraine’s “pride and joy”, noting they live right near the town centre. “Without the platypus, we’re just another small town in Tasmania competing for a handful of tourist dollars,” she told Yahoo News. The region’s flooding susceptibility made the remediation work necessary, but Gilles said the council was misinformed that no active burrows existed in that location.

Final Thoughts

The investigation will determine whether the council’s contractors destroyed an active platypus den and whether environmental protocols were properly followed. For Deloraine, the outcome carries weight beyond habitat protection: platypus tourism is central to the town’s identity and economy.

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