Protesters say video of distressed kangaroo confirms Golden Bay wildlife fears | VIDEO

The footage, taken on Noreena Street, Golden Bay, shows the animal trying find a way through temporary construction fences and established houses back into its natural coastal dune environment.

One resident said the video illustrated what was happening to the native animals in the area.

“People need to see the struggle of losing our sand dunes to our wildlife,” she said.

The development had been the focus of protests since bulldozers moved onto the site on Monday near the corner of Dampier Drive and Mandurah Road, Golden Bay.

Machinery was torched on Wednesday night, prompting police to post a reward and anger by residents who had wanted peaceful demonstrations against the residential development.

Both the company overseeing the development and the WA minister for the environment said programs were in place to relocate wildlife to new habitats.

Peet Limited chief executive Brendan Gore said appropriate measures would be taken to return to safety kangaroos unable to move freely to natural bush.

“Measures have been taken throughout the life of the Golden Bay project to protect local wildlife from the impacts of development,” he said.

“The animals are able to move freely between Golden Bay and Madora Bay and are not fenced in by the development in any way. If any kangaroos are not moving freely away from the works area, appropriate measures will be taken to ensure their safety.”

Environment Minister Stephen Dawson said he instructed his departments to urgently investigate issues surrounding the project.

“I’m told that measures have been taken throughout the life of the Golden Bay project to protect local wildlife and flora,” he said.

Protest organisers said they were planning a community picnic at the Golden Bay foreshore on Saturday afternoon to continue the protests in a peaceful way.