The proposed Pioneer-Burdekin pumped hydro project will destroy habitats vital to the survival of the endemic Eungella Honeyeater.
The Eungella Honeyeater is a small bird species endemic to Eungella in central Queensland, Australia. It is listed as a vulnerable species under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 due to its restricted range and declining population. The bird is dependent on the Eungella National Park and its surrounding habitats for its survival, making the proposed Pioneer-Burdekin pumped hydro project a major threat to its existence.
The proposed pumped hydro project will involve the construction of two upper reservoirs in Dalrymple Heights and one lower reservoir in Netherdale. Both of these areas are known Eungella Honeyeater habitats. The construction of the reservoirs will require the clearing of large areas of forest, which will lead to the destruction of the Eungella Honeyeater's sensitive habitats. The reservoirs will also fragment the bird's habitat, making it difficult for them to find food and breeding sites. The noise and disturbance caused by the construction and operation of the project will further disrupt the bird's nesting and breeding behaviours.
The Eungella Honeyeater is an important pollinator of the local flora, and its loss could have cascading effects on the ecosystem. It is also a major attraction for ecotourists, who visit the area to see this unique and endangered species. The loss of the Eungella Honeyeater will have significant economic impacts on the local tourism industry, which supports many jobs in the region.
There are alternatives to the proposed pumped hydro project that can meet the region's energy storage needs without impacting the Eungella Honeyeater's habitats. For example, battery storage technologies such as lithium-ion batteries can provide reliable and scalable energy storage solutions without the need for large-scale infrastructure projects. Furthermore, energy efficiency and demand management measures can reduce the need for peak demand energy storage altogether.
References
BirdLife International. (2016). Eungella Honeyeater (Lichenostomus hindwoodi) - BirdLife species factsheet. Retrieved from https://www.birdlife.org
Commonwealth of Australia. (2021). Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment. Eungella Honeyeater. Retrieved from https://www.environment.gov.au/
DoE (Department of Energy). (2022). Energy Storage: Pumped Hydro. Retrieved from https://www.energy.gov
Eungella National Park. (2022). Retrieved from https://parks.des.qld.gov.au/parks/eungella/
GHD. (2019). Preliminary Impact Assessment Report - Clarke Range Pumped Hydroelectric Energy Storage Scheme. Retrieved from https://www.ghd.com
Solar Citizens Australia. (2022). Alternatives to Pumped Hydro. Retrieved from https://www.solarcitizens.org.au
The Conversation. (2021). How green is pumped hydro? Retrieved from https://theconversation.com/