22nd December 2024

Press Release: Call to Halt Lotus Creek Wind Energy Development

Bulldozers have recently begun clearing threatened species habitat for the Lotus Creek wind energy complex in Central Queensland, causing significant distress among communities across Australia. In response to serious environmental concerns, Minister Plibersek is hereby demanded to direct the immediate cessation of all work at the site due to the proposed ILLEGAL area of clearing necessary for this wind farm, which has not been authorised by Tanya Plibersek’s Department of Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Water (DCCEEW).

This forest clearing will result in severe and unavoidable adverse impacts for wildlife, including koalas and greater gliders, now uplisted to endangered and facing the threat of extinction. 

Mapping based on the latest shapefile provided by Attexo (acting for Vestas/CS Energy) shows that there is proposed to be cleared 97.6ha of non-remnant Category X vegetation, 577.7ha of “least concern” forests (least concern means that more than 30% of this type remains statewide - here this is mainly koala habitat), and 8.3ha of “of concern” dominant or subdominant forests. This invalidates all proposed (sham) offsets, as this increased area of clearing of threatened species habitat has not been accounted for, nor have other significant residual impacts including fragmentation, edge effects, and noise & physical disturbance been accounted for altogether. The DCCEEW has only approved a total of 399.1ha clearing, including 345ha of koala habitat. These areas are what the (sham) offset calculations are based on, not the increased areas as revealed by the most recent shapefile. 

Ecological surveys conducted on the Lotus Creek site have confirmed the presence of a healthy and self-sustaining koala population, with a total of 101 koalas recorded during three survey periods, including seven females with joeys. These remarkable findings highlight a thriving population that will be imperilled by current development activities.

Additionally, endangered greater gliders have been identified at 131 locations, underscoring the urgent need for protection of these vital species.

As bulldozers move in, there is grave concern that koalas and greater gliders may be knocked from their trees, potentially leading to their injury or death. There is no evidence that wildlife catchers/spotters or veterinarians were employed to oversee the first major area of clearing (pictured below). The lack of transparency and independent oversight at the Lotus Creek site is alarming and raises serious questions about the treatment of these vulnerable animals and their habitats.

Koalas are notoriously difficult to spot due to their camouflage and behaviour. Consequently, individuals that may not be seen today could be severely impacted as trees are felled without adequate measures in place to monitor their safety. This is a serious animal welfare issue which has not been adequately addressed by the owner and contractors and DCCEEW. 

The Lotus Creek koala population is of particular significance due to its genetic diversity, essential for the future survival of the species. Recent research indicates that Queensland’s koalas are the most genetically diverse in Australia, making the protection of the Lotus Creek population critical. The Clarke Connors Range, on which this wind development and the nearby Clarke Creek wind development are situated, is regarded by University of Queensland scientists as potentially of NATIONAL SIGNIFICANCE, and koala habitat mapping reveals this area to have the highest grade of koala habitat suitability - 9-10/10.

In summary, the very significant residual impacts of the Lotus Creek wind energy development, unable to be adequately offset, will cause irreparable harm to the landscape and the ecosystems within it. The construction of new roads will undoubtedly introduce invasive weeds and feral predators, while the removal of forests will lead to a drier landscape and decreased soil moisture due to known effects of wind turbines and forest fragmentation. 

Moreover, there is no social license for the Lotus Creek wind development, as public sentiment reflects a lack of consent for such actions. Concerned Australians care deeply about the welfare of Queensland’s iconic koalas and will undoubtedly be appalled by these developments.

Minister Plibersek has an urgent and crucial duty to intervene to stop and abandon the Lotus Creek wind development to prevent this unfolding environmental catastrophe. We expect that this should be fully investigated, and charges are to be laid against the appropriate people and companies for providing false and misleading information to the Commonwealth. In addition, the persons in the DCCEEW responsible for approving this project should also be investigated and dealt with appropriately for unprofessional and incompetent behaviour. 

Media contact:

Steven Nowakowski

Vice President: Rainforest Reserves Australia

Mobile: 0402 810 411 or contact Steven at info@rainforestreserves.org.au

Project: 46 wind turbines. Fragmentation haulage roads and Wind Turbines – will require 391.3 ha of habitat to be cleared through 3,044.9 ha Project Area in a 48,393.2 ha site.

- Threatened wildlife impacted: Koalas were found to be present in all suitable habitat within the Site Boundary, with 101 observed during three survey periods. 7 females were recorded with back young during the pre-wet 2020. Greater Gliders inhabit site and were recorded at 131 locations across all survey periods.

TAKE ACTION

Please write to Minister Plibersek to ask she halts Lotus Creek wind farm here: https://keepchalumbinwild.good.do/stoplotuscreekwindfarmnow/stoplotuscreekwindfarm