Work has been done to clear the grounds of the popular camping site Bendeela picnic and camp grounds of weeds by The Shoalhaven council on behalf of The Sydney Water Authority.

Extensive poisoning of weeds and the use of a large mulcher has left many burrows covered in mulch and earth. No effort was made to establish which burrows were active or to prevent wombats from being trapped inside.

46 burrows have been identified as effected. There is no way of knowing how many wombats escaped or were trapped.

No request was made for a wildlife carer to be present to assist and minimize damage to the wombat population.

*It is illegal to interfer an inhabited wombat burrow in NSW. Even if you have located an apparently vacant burrow, you must not fill it in without confirming that it is Inactive.

These wombats are a popular tourist attraction and already under tremendous pressure from sarcoptic mange (a burrowing mite that can lead to death) stress during peak seasons when the camp is filled with people, deliberate and accidental injury and weather events like floods or heat waves. They need our protection and respect and it is the duty of camp management to afford them that right.

*Wombats are classified as protected fauna under the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974. It is an offence to harm a wombat unless a licence is obtained from OEH.