Australia's Renewable Energy Project Faces Criticism Over Habitat Destruction

In New South Wales, a renewable energy project has come under fire for clearing native trees that house about 60 hatchlings, including kookaburras, kestrels, rosellas, and galahs. The Central West Orana Renewable Energy Zone, a $5.5 billion initiative, is aimed at connecting solar and wind energy to the grid but has created significant backlash.

The trees were cleared by energy company ACEREZ along Merotherie Road, north of Mudgee, to upgrade a dirt road for the Merotherie Energy Hub. Veterinarian Paige Loneregan from Mudgee Vet Hospital expressed horror at the influx of displaced birds, stating, "We were inundated without any warning and just horrified at the numbers." One kookaburra chick had to be euthanized due to a broken pelvis, highlighting the distressing impact of this habitat destruction.

Wildlife rescue organization WIRES has since taken in the birds, with emergency response manager Matthew Godwin stating the local volunteers were overwhelmed and even brought in a wildlife ambulance from Sydney to assist.

ACEREZ contended that the vegetation removal was compliant with the project's environmental impact statement and biodiversity management plan. However, ecologist David Allworth criticized the decision, noting the presence of ancient, hollow-bearing trees crucial for Australian fauna.

Allworth stated, "It’s been an unnecessary tragedy," and suggested that alternative routes for the road could have avoided harming these vital habitats. Member for Calare Andrew Gee called the clearing an act of "environmental vandalism," emphasizing the irony of destroying habitats in the name of renewable energy.

He has urged the NSW Premier to halt further tree removal and develop a plan to protect native habitats. The NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure had approved plans for twin transmission lines between Wollar and substations at Merotherie and Elong Elong in June 2024.

Biodiversity assessments from 2023 indicated that the cleared area contained critically endangered hollow-bearing trees, which serve as potential habitat for threatened species like the koala and glossy black cockatoo.

The NSW government’s EnergyCo referred inquiries to ACEREZ and highlighted a $140 million biodiversity offset program intended to mitigate the ecological impacts. Despite these plans, Allworth insists that offsets should be a last resort, as old-growth trees cannot be replaced in a generation or two.

Acting NSW Energy Minister Paul Scully acknowledged the distressing nature of the situation while emphasizing the need for renewable energy projects to combat climate change.