From: Andrew and Marion 

Sent: Tuesday, 16 August 2005 9:46 AM

To: RRAT, Committee (SEN)

Subject: Submission - The Australian National Animal Welfare Bill 2005

Dear Sir/Madam,

Re The National Animal Welfare Bill 2005

Wind Farms world wide, and now in Australia, are killing and maiming a wide range of birds and bats. A number of the species killed are protected by law, however it appears the wind farms proponents and operators feel that they are exempt from such laws.

The attachments are photographs of the Wedge-tailed Eagle maimed at the Starfish Hill wind farm. Its injuries were so serious that it had to be destroyed. Three Wedge-tailed Eagles have been killed at the Starfish Hill wind farm. Dr Charles Meredith undertook a predictive mortality analysis of the proposed Yoloak wind farm and found that of 12 Wedge-tailed Eagles observed in the area 9 would be killed in the first 12 months.

In addition to eagles, kites, falcons and owls, water birds and sea birds, bats are killed by wind turbines. Wind turbines are proposed in remote areas which is often habitat for many non-urban species and as such a threat is imposed on a bird and bat group that would normally be removed from many human impacts. Concepts such as placing wind turbines offshore would only result in albatross, petrel, shearwater etc being killed.

The following is in support of action to prevent the killing of wildife by wind farms. Section A provides informtion of bird and bat kills while section B describes new proposals in important bird areas. The information provided here is not all that is available and further investigation will reveal a considerable amount more.

In Australia there are two proposals that are to be placed in significant wildlife habitat areas and flight paths and if allowed to proceed would have a major impact on a diverse range of birds ands bats. These proposals are for Bald Hills and Mussleroe Bay.

I have more than 27 years of bird watching in the Bald Hills area and coordinated the creation of the Bald Hills wetland. A wind farm is proposed for Bald Hills and at that it would result in the destruction of many birds and bats.

Please contact me if you require any clarification or further information.

Regards

Andrew Chapman