I feel privileged to be connected with the Birding-Aus forum and respect that,
from time to time, there are differences in points of view on a number of
issues. I once assumed that a poorly sited wind energy development which had
the potential to do more environmental harm than good would not get through the
planning assessment process and, as a committed Biodiversity Conservation and
Animal Behaviour Science Degree student and landscape restoration practitioner
concerned about climate change, subscribed to the idea that wind energy was
intrinsically "good". But my personal experience in an area I know well has
changed my view and I'm concerned that quickly dismissing opposition to such
developments as a failure to understand the magnitude of climate change threats
to biodiversity, while it may be true in some cases, could be dangerously wrong
in others.
Perhaps pigeonholing opposition to wind energy developments as stemming from
emotionally charged or coal industry backed ignorance or from an anti-green
"cause" explains why a great cost-effective conservation opportunity may be
lost and a highly environmentally costly choice may be made regarding Pacific
Hydro's proposed "Keyneton" wind energy development in South Australia: I
cannot see how the high environmental costs of this development could be offset
realistically by its benefits: I think there is evidence to show that it
represents a significant threat to the viability of the most important
peppermint box (Eucalyptus odorata) grassy woodland and redgum habitat for
hollow-dependent fauna and at least half the threatened woodland bird species
of Adelaide and the Mount Lofty Ranges, not "just" a direct threat (turbine
strike and barotrauma) to Peregrine falcons and other raptors and at least 12
species of microbats. The development would certainly fragment and degrade an
extremely rare ecotone-rich connection for wildlife between the higher
rainfall areas of Eastern Mount Lofty Ranges and the low rainfall Murray Plains
to the Murray River through land which is (and in the absence of this
development would likely remain) protected from fragmentation and the other
major threats associated with agriculture, building and road development.
Earthworks would involve construction of 42 three metre deep concrete
foundation pads (each the size of a 2 acre block) with a crane pad, fencing,
trenching and other infrastructure alongside it, over 40 kms of underground
trenching, over 40 kms of 10m wide roads over the Somme Creek on it's western
boundary and between springs at each end and the middle of the site, and the
headwaters of all the main ephemeral creeks that feed the Sedan wetlands
(ironically recently Biodiversity Fund funded) lined up along the eastern
boundary, and the Marne River. The Marne is the last red-gum (hollow rich)
lined connection between the high rainfall ranges through the Mallee plains and
Murray River. It will fragment feeding and breeding habitats and introduce
weeds, erosion, polutants and siltation. The development will separate the
largest remnants of hollow-rich peppermint box grassy woodland and the best of
the last temperate native grasslands (including two EPBC listed Critically
Endang
ered ecological communities) in the whole of the Eastern Mount Lofty Ranges. I
applaud the Labour government's action on climate change but because of
fast-tracking with South Australia's Statewide Windfarm policy DEWNR was not
asked to comment on state-listed threatened species recorded in the area. Not
enough was known about the fauna at the time the Peppermint box grassy woodland
and Lomandra effusa natural temperate grassland ecological communities were
listed under the EPBC Act so only the vegetation was allowed to be considered
in the EPBC referral process - not the fauna it supports (and supports it). The
area falls in what seems to have been treated as an administrative and
political "no-man's land" at the border of NRM boundaries and Councils and in
safe Liberal electorates. I was not impressed by the weakness of the
proponent's opportunistic, ridge-based, unfocused fauna (and flora) survey
effort.
Company executives have openly stated that "wildlife leaves the area" - the
question "why?" (and where is it supposed to go) has not been answered.
Regards,
Alex
Alex Randell, Nuriootpa SA.
________________________________________
From:
on behalf of Dave Torr
Sent: Monday, July 01, 2013 1:29 AM
To: Stephen Ambrose
Cc:
Subject: White-throated Needletail collides with Scottish wind turbine
Yes, wind turbines do kill birds but nowhere near as many as other human
structures and activities. Obviously they need careful placement to avoid
bird "highways" but on balance I believe they are good things
On 1 July 2013 10:55, Stephen Ambrose <> wrote:
> Here is another perspective of the same incident, by Harry Huyton, the
> RSPB's Head of Climate Change Policy:
>
>
> http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/blog/2013/jun/28/white-throated-needle
> tail-wind-turbines
>
> Regards,
> Stephen
>
> Stephen Ambrose
> Ryde NSW
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From:
> On Behalf Of Andrew
> Taylor
> Sent: Monday, 1 July 2013 10:15 AM
> To:
> Subject: [Birding-Aus] White-throated Needletail collides with Scottish
> wind
> turbine
>
> http://devilbirder.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/twitching-tragedy.html
> ===============================
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