Environment

The Stockyard Hill Wind Farm is located within an agricultural district, with the majority of the site being used largely for grazing and cropping. There is little remnant vegetation remaining on the site.

Extensive surveys were undertaken over the past two years to assess the potential impact of the wind farm on flora and fauna, including birds and bats. As a result, detailed mitigation and monitoring measures have been identified to limit/mitigate the impact of the proposed wind farm on flora and fauna species of the site.

Flora

A total of 124 plant species, comprising of 87 (70%) indigenous and 37 (30%) introduced (including non-indigenous native) have been recorded on site. One threatened flora species, the Golden Cowslips (Diuris behrii) (listed as vulnerable within Victoria) was detected in the northern part of the wind farm site.

No nationally listed threatened fauna or migratory species were recorded in areas potentially impacted by the proposed wind farm components.

• Flora and Fauna are both Annex L, which can be found in VOLUME II – Annexes to the PPAR. View the documentation

Fauna

Fauna recorded on site are mainly native, made up of common farmland and bushland birds. Around 60 bird species were recorded during the assessment. A small number of birds of prey and waterbirds were also observed on the site.

Four mammal species, four reptile species and nine bat species were recorded during the assessment, none of which are threatened. No amphibians were observed on the site. The nationally vulnerable Striped Legless Lizard and state listed Fat-tailed Dunnart were recorded within the site.

The Golden Sun Moth (threatened species) is expected to be found on site due to habitat, but no moths were found when targeted surveys were carried out.

• Flora and Fauna are both Annex L, which can be found in VOLUME II – Annexes to the PPAR. View the documentation

Brolga

The Brolga is well known in the Streatham–Skipton area and breeds in smaller, seasonal and permanent wetlands throughout this area. Within 20 kilometres of the boundary of the proposed wind farm, there are at least five historically known Brolga flocking sites. Up to six breeding pairs are estimated to occur within 3 kilometres of the wind farm boundary. The total likely annual collision rate of Brolga, when the wind farm is in operation, is estimated to be 0.2 birds per year. This potentially low risk to Brolgas has been achieved due to the careful siting of turbines and creation of buffer areas.

In collaboration with the Victorian Government, we are also contributing to the South-West Victorian Brolga Research Project. This project will draw on research already undertaken around the proposed Stockyard Hill Wind Farm.

• Brolga is in Annex L, M, N and O, which can be found in VOLUME II – Annexes to the PPAR. View the documentation

Ongoing environmental management of the site

The development and implementation of a comprehensive Environmental Management Plan (EMP), supported by a Construction EMP, will help to avoid and/or minimise any impacts that the project may have on the environment.

We are currently working through our permit conditions and reports will be uploaded as they become available.