Kleinfelder was engaged to provide environmental and ecological services for the Lotus Creek Wind Farm project (LCWF), supporting environmental compliance and vegetation management under the Project Management Plans. Services included targeted pest flora and fauna surveys, threatened plant survey, assessments and translocations, Matters of National Environmental Significance (MNES) fauna species searches and habitat assessment, and fauna spotter catcher (FSC) services.

Flora Assessments

Kleinfelder ecologists conducted detailed pre-clearance assessments of threatened flora species known on the project site. Their work focused on the Queensland Nature Conservation Act 1992 (NC Act)-listed vulnerable Cycas terryana, including documentation of maturity, health, and translocation potential. Around 2,000 impacted and viable cycads were relocated to nearby recipient sites following the approved LCWF Cycad Translocation Management Plan. Kleinfelder also identified additional threatened flora within the site and carried out comprehensive introduced flora surveys with a focus on high-risk species.

Fauna Assessments

Fauna MNES pre-clearance assessments were undertaken throughout the site. This comprised of targeted threatened fauna searches in mapped habitat for greater gliders (Petauroides volans) and pre-clearance habitat and breeding place assessments within 30 days of vegetation clearing. This allowed for any known MNES species or breeding place impacts to be mitigated throughout the construction and operational phase.

Project Results

Kleinfelder provided expert ecological guidance, adopting an open communication approach whilst conducting ecological assessments in line with project environmental management plans and government approvals, thus providing timely information critical to decision making, project schedule, and approach.

Project Details

Location:
Connor’s Range, Central Queensland

Owner:
Zenviron