A backlash against renewable energy and transmission line projects on private properties is pushing developments into the habitats of critical native species in Victoria, NSW and Queensland, sparking warnings from conservationists that such sites are being lost.
The project, adjacent to the Mallee Cliffs National Park, has triggered assessment under federal law due to expected impacts to threatened bird species like the diamond firetail finch, Major Mitchell’s cockatoo, southern whiteface, malleefowl and regent parrot.
It was rejected by the Albanese government due to the impact on threatened waterbirds and potential damage to wetlands that are protected by the Ramsar Convention. Marine campaigner Shannon Hurley echoed the Biodiversity Council’s support for rapid renewables rollout to cut emissions, but said that such developments, if left unchecked, “could create as many problems as we solve”.
Renewables developers say slow environmental approvals are a major factor in the big slowdown in 2023 of new financial commitments in grid-scale generation capacity from $6.5 billion in 2022 to $1.5 billion. “Where cleared area is tens or hundreds of kilometres away from the grid or existing transmission infrastructure, developers are unlikely to consider those cleared areas for establishing renewable energy generation. And any additional costs associated with constructing that infrastructure will be passed onto energy consumers,” Lipski said.