THE DAILY MAIL HEADLINE…
Wind turbines in Queensland and NSW are killing rare Aussie wildlife – and wind farm operators are being trained to ‘kill’ koalas ‘humanely’ – as Labor commits to zero emissions by 2050.
FROM WITHIN THE ARTICLE:
It’s almost a contradiction in terms; wind is at the centre of Australia’s optimistic goal of reaching net zero emissions by 2050.
But the unique wildlife Australians hope to protect by reducing emissions and thereby slowing global warming, including wedge-tail eagles, falcons, magpies and other birds and animals, are falling victim to wind farms throughout the nation every day.
Meanwhile, other wind farms are being built in prime koala habitats, meaning some will starve and die.
1513 HECTARES OF KOALA HABITAT MAY BE DESTROYED?
A biodiversity management plan for Clarke Creek notes the project may result in the destruction of up to 1,513 hectares of koala habitat.
In addition to habitat loss, there have already been mass bird and bat casualties on these wind farms due to collisions with turbine blades and throughout vegetation clearing processes, and that number is only expected to rise further.
Bango Wind Farm in south-west NSW detailed a carcass count from September 2022 to August 2023, during which six wedge-tailed eagles, one peregrine falcon, six magpies and 10 dead bats were found.
Please keep in mind that as you click through and read the article the numbers quoted are from just a few of the wind farm/turbine projects and that same company – has many more – along with other companies.
And that the “body” counts provided in the article only include numbers of bird populations that are considered at risk (along with bats) – how many other birds are killed.
And yes, as we covered here, magpie numbers are declining.
KILLING KOALAS WITH BLUNT FORCE TRAUMA?
Michelle Landry, the Liberal Party MP for Central Queensland electorate Capricornia, said she was ‘horrified’ by the Clarke Creek Wind Farm proposal.
‘203 animal species have been identified in the region where these wind farms are being constructed. It is prime habitat for Koalas, Greater Gliders and Squatter Pigeon.’
She described the fauna euthanasia clause as ‘absolutely sickening’.
We totally agree with this statement from local grazier Glen Kelly who warned and argued…
‘There is going to be dozens upon dozens of animals killed and maimed in this process’.
There is areas in the region where there is cleared land. Why is this not used instead of knocking down the habitat of our native animals?
We’ve said over and over again that we are not opposed to wind farms but we do think more care has to be given to where they are located.
Save Our Woodlands is an environmentally conscious group of volunteers dedicated to preserving threatened birds, animals and ecosystems in the woodlands of New South Wales, Australia.
Only 15% of our woodlands remain, the rest has been cleared for agriculture.
Save Our Woodlands Inc. secures and protects woodlands in NSW and pays landholders, in perpetuity, to conserve, enhance and re-establish native woodlands on THEIR land, and to manage these woodlands, so they are maintained.
BUT we need YOUR help. Together we can bring about change. Please consider donating.
People tend to think that woodlands are “just bush,” consequently, over 85% of the native woodlands in New South Wales, Australia have been replaced by agriculture.
Donate $10 per month & help protect critical habitats. By doing so YOU will prevent further species from extinction.
Our work is only possible with your support.
