Clarke Creek Wind Farm Biodiversity Management Plan

Question

Background: The Clarke Creek wind farm in Queensland involves Matters of National Environmental Significance (MNES) and Matters of State Environmental Significance, including listed threatened plants, threatened ecological communities and threatened fauna. The biodiversity management plan lists koalas, greater gliders, squatter pigeons, red goshawks, Corben's long-eared bats, grey falcons, grey-headed flying-foxes, ornamental snakes, threatened cycads and endangered semi-evergreen vine thicket communities. It also records an active wedge-tailed eagle nest and hundreds of hollow-bearing trees and rock habitat features. D.6 EUTHANASIA Euthanasia will be conducted using blunt force trauma in accordance with the Animal Care guidelines (DES 2013). Blunt force trauma is mainly recommended to humanely kill reptiles, amphibians and small to medium sized mammals but can be used on larger mammals. This is a hard, sharp blow to the base of the back of the skull with a blunt metal or heavy wooden bar. This method will be utilised where the person has some experience in the practice of blunt trauma, feels comfortable in carrying out the technique and will be followed by a secondary method of euthanasia where appropriate (e.g. cervical dislocation, decapitation) if there is uncertainty as to final death. The anatomy of the skull varies greatly between species and some will require more force than others. A second fauna spotter will be required to assist with larger animals. Appropriate tools to undertake blunt trauma are to be carried by all suitably experienced spotters. Larger tools (e.g. large crowbars or sledge hammers) are to be available in each car. Squadron Energy is the Developer and NGH Environmental wrote the Biodiversity Management Plan. Questions - Koalas Referring to the Clarke Creek Wind Farm Biodiversity Management Plan: The plan identifies removal of up to 1,513 hectares of endangered koala habitat and up to 17.83 hectares of habitat for the endangered greater glider. 1. Is the Department aware that the Clarke Creek Wind Farm Biodiversity Management Plan contains an animal euthanasia protocol allowing blunt force trauma, including a hard blow to the base of the skull with a blunt metal or heavy wooden bar? 2. Given the plan identifies 1,513 hectares of koala habitat to be cleared, how many have been euthanized to date? 3. Does the Department consider this euthanasia protocol compatible with the Commonwealth's duty to protect listed threatened species? 4. Has the Department ever reviewed whether animal injury and euthanasia protocols attached to wind farm projects are consistent with threatened species recovery objectives, animal welfare standards, and the expectations of Australians? 5. Does the Department accept that an approval system that allows clearing of endangered koala habitat and management of injured koalas by killing them using blunt force trauma to the base of the skull is a failure of protecting an endangered species? 6. Is the Department aware of how many wind farms have been approved under the EPBC Act that include koala euthanasia protocols? 7. For Clarke Creek specifically, how many euthanised animals have been recorded during clearing and construction? 8. How many euthanized animals have been recorded for all wind farms in Australia during clearing and construction?

Answer

Please see the attached answer.

Documents

• Question with answer (PDF) (opens in a new tab)
• SQ26-000646.pdf (opens in a new tab)