Did you know we’re experts in managing the ecological impact of Wind Farms?

We’re extremely proud of the work we’ve done on the Kaban Green Power Hub, a renewable energy wind farm project located in the Atherton Tablelands of Far North Queensland.​ We’ve provided expert advice and services that ensure the long-term sustainability of local ecological values. Read on to find out more.

The Project

Kaban Green Power Hub is a renewable energy project located in the Atherton Tablelands of Far North Queensland.​ It consists of a 157 MW wind farm with approval for a 100 MW battery, and a network upgrade.  The project has a power purchase agreement with CleanCo to provide energy in support of Queensland’s target of 50% renewable electricity by 2030.

Our involvement

We were involved in the project from the outset, assisting with ecological field assessments and in the provision of reports to support the approval applications.

Our team also prepared project-specific management plans, including a Vegetation Management Plan, Fauna Management Plan, Bird and Bat Adaptive Management Plan, and an Offset Area Management Plan. These plans were developed in close collaboration with Neoen and designed to ensure compliance with both Commonwealth and State environmental regulations.

Deliverables

Vegetation Management Plan

The Vegetation Management Plan was developed to manage and mitigate the impact of this project on vegetation communities and threatened flora species adjacent to the Project site. Our plan identified the vegetation communities and threatened flora species present in the project area and provided strategies to protect and manage them accordingly.  This included measures to minimise the impact of construction activities on the vegetation, such as limiting the clearing of native vegetation and establishing buffer zones around sensitive areas.

Fauna Management Plan

The Fauna Management Plan was developed to mitigate impacts on fauna resulting from the Kaban project. Our plan identified the key fauna species, and their associated habitats present in the area and provided measures to reduce impacts on them during the construction and operation of the Power Hub. This included species-specific mitigation measures for the threatened Greater Glider and Magnificent Brood Frog, a little-known threatened species and unique frog which had not previously been considered in any management plan.

Bird and Bat Adaptive Management Plan 

The Bird and Bat Adaptive Management Plan was developed to minimise the impact of the project on threatened bird and bat populations around the Kaban Project site. The plan identified the species of birds and bats present in the area and provided measures to minimise their exposure to the project. This included strategies to mitigate, monitor and assess ongoing project-related impacts.

Biodiversity Offsets

We developed the Offset Area Management Plan to offset any residual impact of the project on the local environment. Our plan identified suitable offset areas and provided strategies to restore and manage those sites. This included measures such as the restoration of degraded vegetation areas, the implementation of weed and pest control measures, and fire management techniques to reduce high-intensity fires and promote native species regeneration.

Outcomes

The team at E2M has supported Neoen through the provision of expert advice and services that will ensure the long-term sustainability of local ecological values.

This project was a complex undertaking that required the preparation of several plans and assessments to ensure compliance with environmental regulations and to manage potential negative impacts on local flora and fauna.

Our continued involvement is in the provision of ecological monitoring services and compliance support including regular monitoring in accordance with the Fauna Management Plan, Bird and Bat Adaptive Management Plan and Offset Area Management Plan.