Stop Lotus Creek wind farm NOW!

Please email the Minister Tanya Plibersek to urgently STOP the Lotus Creek wind development.

We have just received news that the Lotus Creek wind farm in Central Queensland has commenced construction.

We have serious concerns about Lotus Creek wind farm. Specifically:

Inadequate Ecological Surveys: The ecological assessments conducted in the area have been grossly insufficient and lack independent oversight. This area has not undergone comprehensive ecological evaluations concerning Matters of National Environmental Significance.
Non-compliance with EPBC Law and Offsets Policy: There are multiple violations of EPBC Law, with endangered species and populations not adequately identified. Furthermore, significant residual impacts on ...

Please email the Minister Tanya Plibersek to urgently STOP the Lotus Creek wind development.

We have just received news that the Lotus Creek wind farm in Central Queensland has commenced construction.

We have serious concerns about Lotus Creek wind farm. Specifically:

Inadequate Ecological Surveys: The ecological assessments conducted in the area have been grossly insufficient and lack independent oversight. This area has not undergone comprehensive ecological evaluations concerning Matters of National Environmental Significance.
Non-compliance with EPBC Law and Offsets Policy: There are multiple violations of EPBC Law, with endangered species and populations not adequately identified. Furthermore, significant residual impacts on identified threatened species have not been assessed correctly, and the proposed offsets fail to account for the totality of these impacts.
Neglect of Current Scientific Evidence: The proponent has failed to incorporate recent scientific data regarding the adverse effects of clearing, road construction, and noise disturbances on wildlife, ecological communities, and particularly threatened species, ignoring the precautionary principle in the face of these unknowns.
Violation of “Nil Conservation Loss” Policy: The Federal Government’s policy of “nil conservation loss” has not been upheld. Numerous threatened species in the area have likely gone unidentified, and significant impacts on both identified and unidentified species cannot be satisfactorily offset.
Unrealistic Approval Conditions: Compliance with multiple approval conditions poses a significant challenge and is highly unlikely.
Lack of Wildlife Management: There is no documented evidence that wildlife catchers or spotters were engaged during the initial clearing operations for the wind farm.

Endangered koalas and greater gliders are thriving here! Remnant forest, important tree hollows, critical habitat is now in peril. The destruction and fragmentation of their habitat for a wind farm will introduce feral predators, edge effects, habitat degradation and infrasound. The sound footprint of wind turbines has not been considered and is known to repel mammals. This cannot happen.

Koalas and greater gliders are now at risk of being knocked out of their trees, to be injured or killed.

Koalas were found to be present on site with 101 recorded seen during 3 surveys. 7 females were recorded with joeys. The koala population is self-sustaining and rich in genomic diversity. It may be critical to the longterm survival of the species.

This diversity of koala populations is significant and must be protected for the sake of the survival of the species. Just published research reveals Queensland's koalas are the most genetically diverse in Australia: https://www.sydney.edu.au/news-opinion/news/2024/12/03/new-map-shows-where-koalas-are-at-most-risk.html#:~:text=The%20data%20shows%20that%20koalas%20in%20Queensland,and%20Queensland%2C%20have%20the%20least%20genetic%20variation.

Endangered greater gliders were recorded at 131 locations. A remarkable population in an extinction crisis! This habitat must be left intact.

Intact forest is already combatting climate change. Forest is also home to precious biodiversity.

Minister Tanya Plibersek is one of the few politicians who can put a stop this.

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Stop Lotus Creek wind development, Central Qld NOW!

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Please email Federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek to request a STOP WORK at the Lotus Creek wind development.

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Dear Minister,

Bulldozers have just moved into Lotus Creek Central Queensland to start clearing habitat for the Lotus Creek wind farm. This development is causing myself and my community great distress.

I ask that you urgently stop the Lotus Creek wind farm from proceeding. Please call a halt to all work onsite.

There exist serious concerns regarding breaches onsite, specifically:

- Inadequate Ecological Surveys: The ecological assessments conducted in the area have been grossly insufficient and lack independent oversight. This area has not undergone comprehensive ecological evaluations concerning Matters of National Environmental Significance.

- Non-compliance with EPBC Law and Offsets Policy: There are multiple violations of EPBC Law, with endangered species and populations not adequately identified. Furthermore, significant residual impacts on identified threatened species have not been assessed correctly, and the proposed offsets fail to account for the totality of these impacts.

- Neglect of Current Scientific Evidence: The proponent has failed to incorporate recent scientific data regarding the adverse effects of clearing, road construction, and noise disturbances on wildlife, ecological communities, and particularly threatened species, ignoring the precautionary principle in the face of these unknowns.

- Violation of “Nil Conservation Loss” Policy: The Federal Government’s policy of “nil conservation loss” has not been upheld. Numerous threatened species in the area have likely gone unidentified, and significant impacts on both identified and unidentified species cannot be satisfactorily offset.

- Unrealistic Approval Conditions: Compliance with multiple approval conditions poses a significant challenge and is highly unlikely.

- Lack of Wildlife Management: There is no documented evidence that wildlife catchers or spotters were engaged during the initial clearing operations for the wind farm.

During ecological surveys on the wind farm site, koalas were found to be present on site with 101 recorded during three survey periods. 7 females were documented with joeys. This koala population is remarkable - thriving,  healthy and self-sustaining. Koalas were seen throughout the wind farm site, and the parts that couldn't be accessed are assumed to have koalas in them.

Endangered greater gliders were recorded at 131 locations. This is an astonishing population that requires protection.

Koalas and greater gliders may now be knocked out of trees as bulldozers move in! They may be crushed, or flee to habitat that cannot support them. A horrendous fate for two species which are critically endangered.

Worryingly, there is no transparency about what is happening on the ground now at Lotus Creek. There is no independent oversight. This is of grave concern.

Koalas are extremely difficult to see - they sit in trees camouflaged. They also rove at night. A koala may not be in a particular tree today, but may be tomorrow. Koalas that are not detected by workers onsite may be hurt and killed as trees are knocked over.

Are you aware that the Lotus Creek koala population is of significance because it is genetically diverse? It may hold keys to the future survival of the species. Important research just published reveals Queensland's koalas are the most genetically diverse in all of Australia. The Lotus Creek population is critical: https://www.sydney.edu.au/news-opinion/news/2024/12/03/new-map-shows-where-koalas-are-at-most-risk.html#:~:text=The%20data%20shows%20that%20koalas%20in%20Queensland,and%20Queensland%2C%20have%20the%20least%20genetic%20variation.

In short, the significant residual impacts of the Lotus Creek wind farm will cause irreparable harm to the whole landscape. New roads will cause edge effects, introducing new weeds and feral predators. The land will become dryer with loss of vegetation and spinning wind turbines decreasing moisture in the soil.

Factoring in the cumulative impacts of so many developments in Queensland now approved for critical habitat, from renewables to coal mines to housing, the Lotus Creek wind farm poses a serious problem for the critical populations of Queensland's koalas and greater gliders as well as biodiversity in general.

There is also no social license for Lotus Creek wind development. The public did not consent to the Lotus Creek wind development. Australians care about Queensland's iconic koalas and will be appalled at this.

Minister, intact forest is already combating climate change - please, this critical habitat needs to be left intact.

You are in a position now to stop Lotus Creek wind farm. Please put a halt to this unfolding catastrophe.

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