WA’s $100 billion ‘green’ project will destroy ‘spectacular hidden world’: scientists
Dr Stefan Eberhard, a cave scientist and co-founder of Save the Nullarbor, has been exploring and studying the Nullarbor’s caves for more than 40 years. He said the Nullarbor Plain was the world’s largest arid limestone karst system, “a spectacular hidden world of ancient caves and rock holes of staggering dimensions, beauty, scientific values, and priceless cultural importance.”
The development proposes to clear up to 27,000 hectares of land and partially clear another 77,000 hectares and install, as well as the turbines and solar farms, electrolysers, data centres, power lines, pumping and cooling systems, an ammonia production facility, workshops and fabrication facilities and worker villages to home around 8000 people. An infrastructure corridor is planned to the coast through the newly announced South Coast Marine Park.
These ochre hand stencils in a Nullarbor cave indicate the traditional ownership of the Mirning Peoples who used the cave system for shelter, ceremony, creative expression and a source of water and flint for tools. Credit: Stefan & Bronwen Eberhard
Eberhard said this infrastructure and clearing would also damage fragile soils and potentially change inputs to the underground caves in which rare and unique species lived.
Environmental law expert Dr Gerry Bates contributed to the group statement, saying Australia’s environment minister had both a legal ability and obligation to identify the area for further protections.
WGEH chief executive Dr Ray Macdonald said an absolute priority of the project was “avoidance of impact”, which was fundamental in respecting and protecting the environment.
“In relation to cave and karst features, we have already undertaken significant identification of location studies,” he said.
“This, and intentional buffer zones, will help ensure we have no physical overlay with, nor impact on, these environments. Ongoing studies will continue to ensure further identification of any sensitivities and maintain our principle of avoidance.
“While the WGEH renewables project has a large perimeter of land, around 95 per cent of the total project area will remain untouched. With respect to the 5 per cent that will be utilised, there is considerable flexibility in where solar panels, wind turbines and related infrastructure can be situated.”
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