Chalumbin is a vast and remote region of untouched wilderness located on the Atherton Tablelands in Far North Queensland. It sits between Tully Gorge National Park and Koomboola National Park and it’s inaccessible location ensures the animals and plants are protected from human interference. 78,000 acres of this land is slated by energy corporation Epuron and the Queensland Government to become th
e project site of a vast wind farm. Epuron plans to construct up to 100 wind turbines on this unique and untouched habitat – the habitat destruction and impact upon protected species will be devastating. If the wind farm goes ahead:
•Delicate ecosystems will be irreparably damaged and crucial habitat lost to make way for 75m wide roads and massive industrial wind turbines.
• The lives of critically endangered species that live in Chalumbin such as the Red Goshawk will be further jeopardised. Studies have shown raptors and bats are most likely to be killed by wind turbines, placing the Red Goshawk at particular risk as well as native bat species in the area. Greater Gliders, listed as Vulnerable under the EPBC Act, rely on the tree corridors of Chalumbin for survival and the endangered Magnificent Brood frogs numbers will be further strained as their habitat is destroyed.
• Australia has one of the highest rates of animal and plant extinction in the world. Queensland particularly is being deforested at an alarming rate. The threat of climate change calls for us to preserve every last pocket of untouched wilderness left – it is now literally a matter of life and death for the animals, trees and unique ecosystems of our country.
• In Queensland there is a tragic precedent of wilderness being destroyed for Wind Farms – Mount Emerald, once a pristine wilderness has now been razed for a wind farm. Massive concrete foundations will remain embedded in the earth at Emerald Heights for the indefinite future and turbine propellers will go to landfill once used. The ecological cost of a wind farm on the untouched wilderness Chalumbin is simply too high.
