Lotus Creek wind development, Central Queensland (approved)
Status: Approved in revised form in November 2022 by Federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek after being rejected in 2020 by then Federal Environment Minister Sussan Ley.
Proponent: Vestas (onsold from Ark Energy)
Project Description: 55 wind turbines and infrastructure, located at Lotus Creek, inland near St Lawrence, Central Qld.
Some of the threatened wildlife impacted: A critical Koala population live here. Koalas were found to be present in all suitable habitat within the Site Boundary, with 101 recorded (heard or seen) during three survey periods. Seven (7) females were recorded with back young during the pre-wet 2020. 345.5 ha of Koala habitat is expected to be cleared for the development. Endangered Greater Gliders were recorded at 131 locations across all survey periods within the site.
Read documentation here
Project Area: 3044.9 hectares
Site Boundary: 48,393.2 hectares
We ground-truthed Lotus Creek wind farm site ourselves
We visited the site of Lotus Creek to see for ourselves the wildlife that lives there, and the ecosystems in the firing line.
“Seeing the abundant, thriving population of Koalas at Lotus Creek was incredibly distressing, knowing their habitat will be cleared for a vast wind development. It’s heartbreaking to know this ecocidal development has been approved.” - Steven Nowakowski
