BirdLife Tasmania is concerned by Federal Member for Braddon Brett Whiteley’s attempt to secure Federal support for the proposed Robbins Island Windfarm in the far northwest of Tasmania.

“Whilst the contribution wind farms make to the generation of renewable energy is important, the Robbins Passage/Boullanger Bay wetlands is a completely inappropriate site for such a development” the convenor for BirdLife Tasmania, Dr Eric Woehler said today.

“The wetlands support up to 25,000 migratory and resident shorebirds every summer. Many of these birds migrate to the area from Siberia and Alaska to spend the summer months in the wetlands before returning to the Northern Hemisphere” he said.

“Individuals migrate some 25,000km annually, and some birds live for 20 years. That’s half a million kilometres in their lifetime” he added. “How could a 300 turbine windfarm be sited within the most important area for migratory shorebirds in Tasmania?”

The Robbins Passage/Boullanger Bay wetlands are recognised internationally as an Important Bird Area (IBA) under internationally-applied guidelines. “We are concerned that the Member for Braddon is lobbying Environment Minister Greg Hunt for support for the project” said Dr Woehler after a video of the pair visiting the site was posted on twitter yesterday. “I wonder if Mr Whiteley mentioned the impacts the development would likely have on shorebird species protected under federal legislation and international conventions?” asked Dr Woehler.

“Many of the migratory species are listed as Threatened Species under the EPBC Act. Just 3 weeks ago, another six species of migratory shorebirds were uplisted under the Act, including several species as Critically Endangered, in recognition of their high probability of extinction.”

“The last thing these species need are 300 turbines in the middle of the wetlands shredding individuals as they fly around the wetlands to feed” Dr Woehler added.

“BirdLife Tasmania will oppose any efforts to establish a 300 turbine windfarm on Robbins Island in northwest Tasmania as it is utterly inconsistent with the shorebird values recognised around the world” Dr Woehler concluded. “We hope that when the time comes to assess such a proposal under federal legislation the next Australian Government will do the same”.
Dr Eric Woehler, BirdLife Tasmania