NEWS - Federal Government acknowledges Significant Environmental Impact- Victorian Government Continues to Ignores Request for EES
The Western Plains Landscape Guardians have always maintained that the Stockyard Hill wind farm would have untold, devastating impacts on the local environment and particularly on threatened and endangered species, the natural temperate grassland of the volcanic plains and migratory bird species. Finally, the Federal Department of the Environment has acknowledged the environmental problems by determining that the proposed wind farm be subject to “controlled action” under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act. Origin Energy will now have to undertake further studies of the environmental impacts of their massive and intrusive wind farm. The Victorian Government refuses to reassess their Environmental Effects Study (EES) ruling which determined that there would not be any significant environmental effects, even though this was finding of the Federal Government.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Wind developments, as with any other industrial development, have an impact on the environment in which they are located. Appropriate siting of such projects, where they have a low impact on the local environment is critical – no one wants to see significant negative impacts on native wildlife, birds, bats and flora. To determine potential impacts, we believe thorough, independent impact studies must be conducted and disseminated to public and decision-making authorities so site approvals are only made with the best of information. Too often not enough time and care has been taken before developments proceed and as a result flora and wildlife, including birds and bats, have been placed at serious risk. Further, once projects are constructed, there is little to be done if it is found they are having a detrimental impact on the environment.
Environmental Significance
The area between Beaufort and Skipton has a number of significant environmental considerations:
? Lake Goldsmith Game Reserve – a major habitat for water birds, and nesting site for brolga
? Blacks Creek Nature Reserve – the second largest grassland reserve in Western Victoria containing a number of threatened flora species
? Natural Temperate Grassland can be found in this area, it is classified as critically endangered
? Brolgas – significant breeding habitat, as well as flocking sites and foraging areas. The brolga is listed as vulnerable with between 600 and 650 of them remaining.
? Biodiversity – the area is considered to be a “biodiversity hotspot” and areas have been recommended for biodiversity conservation.
What are the major concerns for birds, bats and wildlife?
? Habitat loss and fragmentation
? Collision risk for birds and bats
? Avoidance of wind farm site
What is the major concern for native flora?
? Removal or destruction of flora to make way for construction and roads
? Fragmentation of threatened species
Environmental Damage
? Construction Phase: this is one of the most damaging phases in the wind farm development and includes extensive clearing/use of land for wind turbines, construction cranes, development infrastructure (i.e., substations and temporary concrete plants), access roads to allow massive trucks and cranes, laying of underground cables between turbines and overhead powerlines.
? Each turbine is placed in 600 to 1000 tonnes of concrete. An adjoining pad (sometimes of concrete) is required for the crane to construct each turbine, and an area around the tubine pad is required to layout turbine parts etc.
? Roads between turbines remain for the duration of the project to allow monitoring and maintainence vehicle access, fire trucks.
? Noise of turbines and red flashing lights on turbines may disturb wildlife, birds and animals.
