Australia: Significant woodlands with endangered birds in Canberra to be ruined for more power lines
Nationally significant woodlands harboring endangered birds in
Canberra’s south will be cleared to make way for more industrial land
and a more secure electricity network. ActewAGL proposes a 15km-long
route through old trees with habitat hollows to establish a second
bulk power source, critical for energy-hungry enterprises such as data
centres. The Commonwealth’s Department of Environment, Heritage and
Arts says the work will have a significant impact on threatened
species.
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The department wants more details on the project and a plan to
rehabilitate 38ha of similar woodland south of Canberra to offset the
loss of habitat. On a separate development front, the ACT Conservation
Council says a Government report on a new 73.4ha industrial suburb
Hume West understates the national significance of white box, yellow
box and Blakely’s red gum grassy woodland.
The council’s executive director, John Hibberd, said he understood the need for a broader economic base and was not opposed to a new industrial estate.
Nevertheless, an environmental impact statement was needed because more than half a hectare of native vegetation, the amount specified inlegislation, was to be cleared.
Mr Hibberd said Hume West included 12ha of white box, yellow box and red gum grassy woodland which was part of a highly fragmented community. Environmental consultant David Hogg, whose firm prepared the report on Hume West for the Land Development Agency, said its ecological value was subjective. He said the assessment was prepared under Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act guidelines and expressed no opinion on whether the land should developed.
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