Media release – Keep Tasmania’s Highlands Unique – No Turbine Action Group (NTAG), 15 July 2023
KOREA ZINC TO DESTROY TASMANIA’S UNIQUE HIGHLANDS ENVIRONMENT
Korea Zinc (Ark Energy), has submitted a Development Application to the Central Highlands Council for its St Patricks Plains Wind Farm, on 10,000ha on private properties in the highlands of Tasmania, about 15 km south-east of Miena.
The proposed 231m tall turbines would straddle both sides of the spectacular Highland Lakes Road which links Devonport to Hobart and is the arterial road in the heart of Tasmania to World Heritage Areas and world-famous trout fishing lakes.
David Ridley, Chair Keep Tasmanian’s Highlands Unique – No Turbine Action Group, whose members strongly oppose the project says developer Korea Zinc is one of the world’s largest silver, lead and zinc miners and aims to offset its carbon emissions through green washing its image by investing in renewable energy projects. The cost to the the highlands’ environment, locals, regular visitors, wildlife, heritage values and landscape will be enormous.
The Keep Tasmania’s Highlands Unique group’s major concerns include impacts on native fauna and flora; visual impacts; and potential noise nuisance for neighbours.
The site is a biodiversity hotspot. There are too many threatened and endangered species whose occurrence and survival depend on the harsh climatic and geographical characteristics of the site. The last remaining stand of surviving Miena cider gums which are close to extinction occurs on the St Patricks Plains property. Their conservation is a priority with Landcare groups.
The area is an optimum breeding territory for the endangered Tasmanian wedge-tailed eagle. The species is sensitive to disturbance, excessive noise and vulnerable to nest abandonment. There are 17 nests on or close to the wind farm boundary.
Turbines are too close to the roadsides and the historical Steppes Reserve, scenic appreciation viewpoints and skylines would be destroyed. Turbines are too tall and located too close to neighbours. Over 200 dwellings are located within 2-6km of turbines, noise nuisance would inevitably be a big problem for neighbours and Council.
The development is a Level 2 Activity and will be assessed by both the Central Highlands. Council and the Environment Protection Authority (EPA). It is expected that Council will place Korea Zinc’s (Ark Energy) application and Environmental Impact Statement on display and invite submissions from the public within a month.
Keep Tasmania’s Highlands Unique NTAG has engaged a range of experts to research and prepare irrefutable evidence to demonstrate that the significant detrimental impacts of this project will leave the decision-makers with no option but to refuse the application. The group is expecting a considerable amount of public support with indications that hundreds of submissions against the project will be made.
