Bird flu adds to fears for threatened species at proposed wind farm site
Victorian ecologists are warning of the "compounding risks" of bird flu and a proposal for the nation's tallest wind turbines on threatened species.
The proposed Kentbruck wind farm in south-west Victoria has ecologists worried about the combined threat of bird flu and habitat loss to endangered bird and bat populations. The Australasian bittern, a rare species with fewer than 1,500 individuals left in the wild, and the endangered fairy tern, hooded plover and brolga are among the species facing concerns.
The Glenelg Estuary and Discovery Bay Wetlands in Victoria are crucial habitats for these species, with numbers swelling during winter months. In August, hundreds of birds died from H5N1 avian influenza in the Portland and Glenelg River Estuary. HMC Capital, the developer, claims to have taken extensive measures to mitigate risks, including reducing the number of turbines and establishing a $30 million ecology fund.
However, ecologist Mark Bachmann warns that the proximity to bird flu hotspots and Ramsar-listed wetlands raises significant concerns. A decision on the 600-megawatt wind farm is expected on November 10, and could set a precedent for future renewable energy projects.
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