On 9th September, a rally was held in Ravenshoe. Theoretically it was only days before the Federal Minister for Environment was due to announce her decision on the status of the proposed “Chalumbin Wind Farm”. I fail to see how the word farm applies to the wind turbine industry. Farming involves life that grows and reproduces itself. The proposed wind farm will only kill our beloved forest and all the creatures that live in it – death and destruction while doing very little to help mitigate climate change. The forest itself is doing a much better job while not costing Australia millions of dollars.
At the 11th hour the project proponent Ark Energy has submitted a change to the project. What happens next is unknown up here on the Atherton Tablelands. The fight continues.
Hundreds of people joined the rally which was recorded by Nick Cater of the Menzies Research Centre. The link below takes you to his video on ADH TV which is then followed by his interview with the wonderful Stephen Wilson of Queensland University explaining why companies like Ark Energy are so keen to take on these projects.
I especially loved this poem written by Gary, a resident of Ravenshoe.
KEEP CHALUMBIN WILD
THOSE CARPETBAGGERS ARE COMING,
LAYING CLAIM TO OUR WONDERFUL LAND.
DRAGGING THEIR TOWERS AND TURBINES,
SO WE’RE FORCED TO MAKE THIS STAND!
WE SAY ‘NO’ TO FOREST DESTRUCTION,
TO SPECIES EXTINCTION AS WELL.
WE TREASURE OUR GOSHAWKS & QUOLLS,
OUR CRANES AND FROGS DO WELL.
WE SAY ‘NO’ TO MOUNTAIN TOP CLEARING
WITH EROSION THE LIKELY RESULT.
WE SAY ‘NO’ TO DOZING AND BLASTING,
THIS DESTRUCTION JUST HAS TO STOP.
WHO ARE THESE VANDAL MARAUDERS,
RIPPING OUT TREES AS THEY GO?
WHO SEEK ONLY MONEY AND HANDOUTS,
SUBSIDY PAYMENTS ON SHOW.
THE RESULTS OF THIS FOREST INVASION
IS TO SAVE CO2, SO THEY SAY.
YET THEIR PATH IS ABUNDANTLY LITTERED
WITH CO2 SPENT ON THEIR WAY.
DOES THIS MADNESS GIVE US A CLIMATE
FREE FROM CYCLONES, STORMS AND FIRES?
OR DOES IT JUST GIVE US MORE HEADACHES,
DESTRUCTION, NOISE AND MORE LIES?
WE SAY NO TO THE TURBINES AND BLADES,
TO THE GAUGING OF DEEP FOREST TRACKS.
WE WANT CHALUMBIN WILD,
SO GIVE US OUR NATURAL BUSH BACK!
Future blogs will provide more information about Ark Energy ‘s changes and the implications.
My Blog has become My Nuclear Journey 