Upper Burdekin Wind Farm Development
The Upper Burdekin Wind Farm is a major development project which is proposed on the boarder of the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area and Mt Fox.
The proponent of the Upper Burdekin wind farm is Upper Burdekin Burdekin Wind Farm Holdings, which was a subsidury wholly owned by Windlab. The proposal consists of up to 80 wind turbine generators (WTG) complete with foundations. WTGs will have a maximum hub height of 200 m, and maximum blade length of 100 m
Sharman’s Rock Wallabies have a very restricted range, and are found across the project site. The development footprint will clear 1271.7 hectares of their habitat.
The Issue
Very similar in nature to the Chalumbin Wind farm, Upper Burdekin Wind Farm is proposed in a heavily vegetated landscape, containing threatened species and in close proximity to the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area.
Upper Burdekin wind Farm will impact endangered and iconic species including the Sharman’s Rock Wallaby, Koala and Red Goshawk, all found on site.
The project will set a precedent for the kind of renewable energy development in Queensland that the community can expect to see with the transition away from the fossil fuel industry.
Currently the Queensland Renewable Energy Zones (QREZ) have not been mapped to understand the high value biodiversity and renewable energy resources (wind and solar). This mapping is essential for knowing where renewable energy projects should be located, ensuring that we are not clearing essential habitat and losing biodiversity as a result.
Until the planning and mapping QREZ’s is complete, we can not be confident that the Chalumbin wind farm is not resulting in the loss of essential habitats and biodiversity.
No amount of minimising, offsetting, rehabilitation, will account for poorly placed, and poorly planned development.
We know that the rapid rollout of renewable energy is essential to secure a safe climate future. No one knows that better than the stewards of the reef and rainforest. However we also know that we cannot afford to prepetuate the extinction crisis and biodiveristy loss through renewable energy development.
This is our opportunity to get it right early! – Lucy, Director, CAFNEC
CAFNEC acknowledge the Gugu Badhun Peoples as the first peoples of the land of the proposed site of the Upper Burdekin wind farm. We acknowledge that soveriegnty was never ceded and pay respects to elders.
Koala’s have been observed across the site, there are at least 10 observations that have been made excatly where turbines will be built.
The Solution
Upper Burdekin wind farm is demonstrably uncoordinated development that will likely have significant impact on a broad diversity of Matters of National Environmental Significance. There are likely many feasible alternatives to this wind farm, however they have not been considered.
The Solution: Make a submission today to raise issue regarding with the impacts.
Make a Submission
The Public Environment Report that is prepared as a part of the EPBC Act Assessment is really important. We must work to have as many people making submissions regarding the issues of this windfarm, so that they are highlighted in the assessment.
However, we also know that the Federal Laws have been failing to protect nature, so we must also write to the Federal environment minister, Hon Tanya Plibersek, urging her to reject this proposal. It is a prime opportunity to share the vision we have for a restorative energy industry.
- Make a Submission
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- Email to upperburdekin@windlab.com.
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THE ASSESSMENT PROCESS
Upper Burdekin Public Environment Report
Public Environment Report materials are also available online until 5pm on the 3rd of April.
https://www.upperburdekinwindfarm.com/public-environment-report
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EPBC Assessment Process
The Federal Environment Department has chosen to assess the Chalumbin Windfarm through an assessment process that uses a Public Environment Report. The basic steps are:
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Federal Department provides guidelines to Upper Burdekin Wind Farm Holdings
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Upper Burdekin Wind Farm Holdings produces a Draft Public Environment Report in alignment with those guidelines
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The Federal Department approves the Draft Public Environment Report and tells Upper Burdekin Wind Farm Holdings the public comment period
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The community submits public comment on the Public Environment Report to Upper Burdekin Wind Farm Holdings directly
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Public Comment closes and Upper Burdekin Wind Farm Holdings must finalise the Public Environment Report, considering community comment
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The final report and all public comment must be provided to the Federal Department
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The Federal Department makes a reccomendation to the Environment Minister for decision
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Decision is made