Windlab will hold a drop-in information session on Saturday 13 August from 10am – 1pm at the Mt Fox Campground. If you are interested in learning more about the Upper Burdekin Wind Farm please drop in and see us. Windlab staff will be on hand to answer any questions you may have about the project including current and future activities.

If you can’t make the information session but would like to receive email updates about the project please contact rebecca.mclellan@windlab.com or visit our website Upper Burdekin Wind Farm

Noise monitoring

Four noise monitors were installed in various location around the Mt Fox community in late July. The monitors will collect detailed information on background noise in the area and allow Windlab to confirm any potential noise impacts associated with the Upper Burdekin Wind Farm are in line with community expectation and are well within regulatory requirements.

The monitoring devices do not record sound but continuously measure background noise. Two weather stations were also installed at either end of the study area to allow the audio engineer to cross reference data from the monitoring devices with the weather conditions over the study period.

The devices will be left in place for approximately six weeks.

Ecology studies – bird and bat

During August ecologists will be onsite at the Upper Burdekin Wind Farm conducting targeted surveys in the areas surrounding proposed turbine locations. The surveys will assist Windlab to further understand which species of birds and bats are contained within the project area, their behaviour and flight patterns and how they may be affected by the sweep of turbines.

Bird surveys will be undertaken in 18 different locations at various times of the day including early morning, late morning, early afternoon, and late afternoon. Each location will be surveyed eight times. During the surveys, details of all birds within 200 metres of the survey point will be recorded including species, counts and flight details.

To survey microbat populations 12 automated bat detectors, or song meters, will be installed in close proximity to proposed turbine locations. Detectors are secured to trees or stumps approximately 1.5 metres above ground level and are programmed to record between sunset and dawn. The detectors are triggered by ultrasonic noise and pick up echolocation calls by microbats.

Ecology surveys will continue at regular intervals throughout the life of the project to ensure environmental values in the Upper Burdekin are protected.