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The Flat Rocks Wind Farm Stakeholder Group

The Proposal will require clearing of remnant native vegetation including paddock trees and more recently the Proposal was updated to require the clearing of native remnant vegetation along public roads which was never mentioned in the original DA. Some areas of proposed clearing are mapped as  'Eucalypt woodlands of the Western Australian Wheatbelt which is a Threatened Ecological Community under the EPBC Act  and is also listed as Priority 3(iii) under the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016.

The proposal to now clear two km of remnant native vegetation along Warranup road not only was not applied for or approved for by Council or JDAP or even  considered by the EPA it was specifically referred to in both of the  developers  environmental consultants  which both state,

"In summary,  there should be no impediments to the development of the wind farm facilities providing the remnant vegetation areas (including less disturbed road verges) are not disturbed."


Information on the utilisation of habitat by significant fauna species
within and adjacent to the development envelope has not been considered by the proponent despite the DPLH Position Statement 'Renewable Energy Facilities' (DPLH, 2020) stating that, to understand the impact of wind turbines on birds and bats, the following matters should be considered:

  • stopover sites,

  • local bird species roosting and nesting sites,

  • location of bat colonies,

  • areas of high raptor activity,

  • the cumulative impact of wind turbines on migration routes.


Birds are regarded as being particularly sensitive to wind farms because they may collide with the turbines or be disturbed and displaced away from otherwise suitable habitats (RSBC, 2022).


The Carnaby's Black Cockatoo was identified by the Department of Environment and Conservation as being potentially impacted by the proposal. This species is listed as:

  • Endangered under the Biodiversity Conservation Act,

  • Endangered under the EPBC Act, and

  • Endangered under the IUCN.

It is known that the Red-tailed Black Cockatoo also inhabits the area and this species is listed as

  • Vulnerable under the Biodiversity Conservation Act,

  • Vulnerable under the EPBC Act, and

  • Least Concern under the IUCN.

It is known that Baudin's Black Cockatoo inhabits the area and this species is:

  • Endangered under the Biodiversity Conservation Act,

  • Endangered under the EPBC Act and Critically

  • Endangered under the IUCN.


The impact to Black Cockatoos relates to injury or death from turbine
propellers and reduced use of habitat close to wind turbines during the breeding season, potentially reducing their breeding density.  


The properties identified in the Proposal areas known as Intaba and Yantecup are Confirmed Breeding Areas for Carnaby's Black Cockatoo. A further important breeding site for this species occurs south at Tunney, where nesting sites have been monitored for years.

The wind farm turbines with their massive sweep area and high speed rotating blades will create a vast line of hazards for these birds that migrate annually with their juveniles to foraging grounds to the north and west. Flocks typically commence their ungainly flight in rising winds yet  no conditions have been set by regulators on the requirement of Proponents to monitor or report bird strike or any other impacts on these important breeding populations. Environmental surveys conducted by the Proponents to date have failed to detail breeding areas and wholly dismissed potential impacts on this species, misquoting expert advice from the WA Museum in submissions to the EPA.

 

"..The properties identified in the Proposal areas known as Intaba and Yantecup are 'Confirmed Breeding Areas' for the Carnaby's Black Cockatoo." 

"..Environmental surveys conducted by the Proponents to date have failed to detail breeding areas and wholly dismissed impacts on the Carnaby's Black Cockatoo, misquoting expert advice from the WA museum in the submissions to the EPA"

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Enviromental

© 2023 by The Flat Rocks Wind Farm Stakeholders Group.

 

Disclaimer:

This website is prepared on the basis of the current stakeholders understanding of the previous, current and changing status of the proposed Flat Rocks Wind Farm. It is not intended to be relied upon for any purposes. Please carry out your own enquiries to ascertain the accuracy of any statements made on this website.

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