Mount Emerald Wind Farm

UXO (Unexploded Ordnance Surveys)

Because the northern part of the site had been used as a  military training area and bombing range during World War 2, there was identified a risk of unexploded ordnance (UXO) on the site.

It could comprise the remains of Small Arms Ammunition;  High Explosive Grenades; High Explosive Grenade; 2 – 4.2 inch Mortars all types and 25lb Projectiles all natures. 

Milsearch, a nationally recognised company, has been contracted, and over the past 6 months have assessed the site, to identify and remove dangerous materials. 

They have surveyed all the potential roads, tower sites and the sub-station and laydown compound to ensure they are safe areas to work in or traverse.

In 2016-early 2017, Unexploded Ordnance clearances were conducted across the MEWF site resulting in the destruction of 4 unexploded items and the recovery of around 180 items of Explosive Ordnance Waste (waste left over once an item has exploded).

All of these have been detonated by the Dept of Defence according to agreed protocols.

All staff and contractors working on the site will receive an induction which informs them of the UXO risk, what to look for (possible UXO items are flagged PINK) , and what to do if they find something.   The response is the 3R’s:   RECOGNISE, RETREAT, REPORT! Do not touch!

It should be noted, except when the item has been deliberately interfered with, there have been no known incidents in Australia in which unexploded ordnance has injured a member of the public.

UXO experts will move ahead of all construction work teams to double-check each site for previously unfound material, and appropriately dispose of it, prior to work occurring.

Cultural Heritage surveys – MbarBarrum people

The MBarBarrum people are the traditional owners of the land upon which the Wind Farm will be built.   As part of the approval and construction process, the MBarBarrum people have been consulted to identify areas and finds of significance on the site.

A Cultural Heritage Management Plan was developed as part of the EIS process, to describe what might be found on site, and how to protect it.  Since December 2016, RAC has been working with the MBarBarrum people, and their consultant advisors, across the site to flag, identify and either remove or protect areas and finds that might be impacted by the construction of the roads, compounds and tower footprints.   A team comprising MBarBarrum Elders and young people have been trained in identifying and protecting their cultural heritage elements on site.  They have also undertaken first aid, 4 Wheel-drive and Environmental Awareness training as part of their preparation for ongoing work at the site.

Fauna Surveys/Vegetation protection or translocation

Three days prior to the construction team going through a site, the Fauna and Flora Assessment team will implement the Fauna/Flora protection strategy.

Focus will be on the Northern Quoll because it is Endangered under EPBC Act and Nature Conservation Act.

It is found in rock piles, tree hollows in rocky woodlands across the site. 

It is a small mammal (400-800g avg).  Males only live 1 year.  There are only 53 predicted across the MEWF plateau.

There are strict conditions to protect the species:

• Clearing/work schedule set.

• 3 nights before: Traps set along the transect. Traps flagged YELLOW.

• Each night, traps are baited. 
• The following morning, traps are checked for quolls.
• Quolls are then collared with a radiotracking device and released a minimum of 1000m from the clearance area (it must be on the site).
• The clearance footprint will be searched methodically for denning individuals each morning prior to starting construction activities.
• Search techniques may include manual or visual inspection, radio-tracking and when young are in dens, use of sniffer dogs.  If any actively occupied dens are located within the construction area, then all bulk earthworks will be halted until such time as the individual shifts den sites.   

Timing of works has been planned to try to ensure most road construction and disturbance occurs before the breeding season on August-September.

Plant Translocation:     

A small number of significant flora species found on the MEWF project site are very rare or endangered and some are not found elsewhere. 

These species are likely to need to be translocated,  or buffered from the clearing:

• Acacia purpureopetala (critically endangered)
• Pronstenthera clotteniana (critically endangered)
• Melaleuca uxorum (endangered)
• Grevillea glossedenia (vulnerable)
• Homoranthus porteri (vulnerable)
• Plectranthus amoenus (vulnerable)

These species will be flagged by a botanist and will be in No Go zones.  

All  but one of these species occur on ridgelines to the south of the Powerlink Transmission line so this is where its most important to focus efforts.

Translocation is the deliberate removal of a living plant or reproductive material such as root stock or even parts of the soil. Relocation to a suitable site where it is protected until it can survive on its own.    Not all plants can be successfully translocated.

The Botanist will be on site to collect these plants during preclearance. These plants will be flagged YELLOW.  They will be removed from disturbance sites and placed in new environments. When this has been completed Contractors will receive notification  from the Environmental Project Manager (Mellissa Jess) that the area is free to clear. Yellow flagging tape means it’s not free to clear, yet.