Protection for wombat burrows
In 2023, State Parliament amended the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972 (NPW Act) to create new protections for wombat burrows.
This created a new offence for destroying, damaging or disturbing wombat burrows without a permit. Previously, the legislation protected wombats themselves and not their burrows.
The department is responsible for administering the NPW Act and is now working to determine how to best implement and enforce these amendments.
We intend to implement the new requirements of the Bill in a manner that protects the wombat species’ conservation status and welfare of individual wombats, while also taking into consideration the potential impacts of wombat burrows and warrens on human safety, agriculture, industry and infrastructure.
More information will be made available on this page. If you have any queries or concerns, please contact us.
Frequently asked questions
In June 2023, the NPW Act was amended to create new protections for wombat burrows.
This amendment created a new offence for destroying, damaging or disturbing wombat burrows without a permit, in relevant circumstances.
Previously, the legislation protected wombats themselves and not their burrows.
It is now an offence to destroy, damage or disturb wombat burrows without a permit, except in the following scenarios.
You are permitted to destroy, damage or disturb a wombat burrow without a permit where:
- you are the owner of the land where the burrow is located; or
- you are authorised to destroy, damage or disturb the burrow by the owner of the land where the burrow is located; and
- the burrow is located outside of a Wombat Burrow Protection Zone; and
- the burrow is causing, or is likely to cause, damage to crops, stock, machinery or infrastructure (including tracks and built structures) or may constitute a safety risk or hazard to people.
Put simply, if a burrow is located within a declared Wombat Burrow Protection Zone (see below) a person must not, without a permit, destroy, damage or disturb the burrow.
The Bill came into effect when passed by State Parliament on 21 June 2023.
A Wombat Burrow Protection Zone (WBPZ) is a declared area where a person must not – without a permit – destroy, damage or disturb a wombat burrow.
No WBPZs currently exist. The department will undertake consultation with relevant stakeholder groups, including primary producers and animal welfare groups, regarding the process for creating (declaring) WBPZs.
The department is responsible for administering the NPW Act and is now working to determine how to best implement and enforce these amendments. More information will be made available on this webpage once known.
Wombats, like most native species, are protected under the NPW Act. That protection means that it is illegal to kill, catch, restrain, or injure a wombat without a permit. Under the Animal Welfare Act 1985, it is also an also an offence to ‘ill-treat’ any animal.
No WBPZs have been declared / created, so you do not currently need a permit to destroy, damage or disturb a wombat burrow, providing you satisfy the criteria outlined in Q2.
Please contact wildlife@sa.gov.au if you do not meet the criteria.
You can find information on ways you can live with and manage wombats on the pages below:
- Living with wombats – understand what species of wombats are found in South Australia and how to live harmoniously with them
- Managing wombats – everything you need to know about how to manage wombats causing impacts
