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‘Death by 1000 cuts’ : Massive Goldfields green energy hub to damage intricate Nullarbor caves - Kalgoorlie Miner - 12 December 2024
“Shire of Dundas president Laurene Bonza said the project would be an “absolute headache” from a town planning perspective, given the shire’s current population is about 720.
“The logistics of putting 8,000 people out there, it’s bigger than my head can get around”, she said.
“There are certainly some concerns as far as town planning, and there are environmental concerns.”
“I think the people out here are quite anxious about it…those people that live out at Eucla, there’s about 50 of them, that’s a significant impact on their life.”
‘Dr Eberhard said that number of people moving to the region meant damage to fragile cave systems would be “absolutely inevitable” as more visitors flooded caves in South Australia’s Nullarbor National Park.’
“If this project is allowed to go ahead it will cause unavoidable and irreparable harm to an iconic Australian region with outstanding natural and cultural values of recognised world heritage signficance, “ he said.
‘Scientists warn of Nullarbor Nightmare' - Eyre Peninsula Advocate - 5 December 2024 - by James Jacobi
In the Eyre Peninsula region of South Australia there is growing awareness and concern about the colossal wind & solar energy venture proposed across the border in Western Australia.
'In documents submitted to the WA EPA the proponents said they did not forsee the project having significant impacts on landforms or fauna of the Nullarbor.'
But Dr Eberhard strongly disagreed, highlighting that, given the inter-connected nature of the immense cave and karst system, it was impossible to avoid harming the subterranean network.
"Irrespective of even the most strident commitments to impact avoidance…and even if such measures are made legally enforceable under EPA Conditions of Approval, this colossal industrial venture would wreak unavoidable harm - environmentally, culturally and socially, he said.
“Not only within the proposed development footprint, but very importantly, across the entire Nullarbor region and Great Australian Bight. It should not be constructed on any part of the Nullarbor limestone karst region or incised into the middle of the Great Australian Bight marine national parks.”
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'Wind, solar project a major concern' - Farm Weekly, 26 Nov 2024 online, 29 Nov 2024 print - by Brooke Littlewood
The 3-page article by Brooke Littlewood gives extensive coverage of the proposed project including aspects of the unavoidable harm – environmental, cultural and social - that will be propagated far beyond the proposed development envelope, if this inappropriate development is allowed to proceed. The insidious, indirect impacts of 8,000 additional people living permanently on the Nullarbor is likely to be of enormous consequence and concern to cavers and scientists, pastoral leaseholders, Traditional Owners / Custodians, and land managers of adjoining national parks and conservation reserves.
‘In documents posted on the WA EPA’s website, the proponent said it was committed to mitigating direct environmental impacts by avoidance through development of the proposal’s conceptual design.
‘Dr Eberhard and the group of scientists said failure to adequately recognise karst and karst landforms, particularly caves and rock holes, as a key environmental factor was a serious deficiency in the proposed development.’ “Irrespective of even the most student commitments to impact avoidance, mitigation and rehabilitation,” he said. “Even if such measures are made legally enforceable under EPA conditions of approval, the proposed development would wreak unavoidable harm. “This harm would be environmental, cultural and social, not only within the proposed development footprint, but very importantly across the entire Nullarbor region and Great Australian Bight.” “Besides the caves and rock holes, the overall integrity and natural intactness of the landscape across this distinctive biogeographic region, is one of its redeeming qualities, which would be damaged if this goes ahead.” “We believe the sustainable future for the Nullarbor limestone region depends on fostering environmental, social and economic opportunities and outcomes, which benefit the environment and people,” Dr Eberhard said. “This includes the continuation of good farming practices and small-scale low-impact ecotourism and Indigenous tourism enterprises.”
‘Dr Eberhard and the group of scientists said failure to adequately recognise karst and karst landforms, particularly caves and rock holes, as a key environmental factor was a serious deficiency in the proposed development.’ “Irrespective of even the most student commitments to impact avoidance, mitigation and rehabilitation,” he said. “Even if such measures are made legally enforceable under EPA conditions of approval, the proposed development would wreak unavoidable harm. “This harm would be environmental, cultural and social, not only within the proposed development footprint, but very importantly across the entire Nullarbor region and Great Australian Bight.” “Besides the caves and rock holes, the overall integrity and natural intactness of the landscape across this distinctive biogeographic region, is one of its redeeming qualities, which would be damaged if this goes ahead.” “We believe the sustainable future for the Nullarbor limestone region depends on fostering environmental, social and economic opportunities and outcomes, which benefit the environment and people,” Dr Eberhard said. “This includes the continuation of good farming practices and small-scale low-impact ecotourism and Indigenous tourism enterprises.”
ABC Radio Perth, Mornings WA, 27 Nov 24 with Nadia Mitsopoulos
Available on ABC listen, interviews with Dr Stefan Eberhard and WGEH CEO Ray McDonald start at 1 hour 35 minutes, ends at 1:53 (including audience comments)
ABC Radio, Regional WA Drive Program, 26 Nov 2024, with Andrew Collins
Available on ABC listen, interviews with Dr Stefan Eberhard and WGEH CEO Ray McDonald start at 40 minutes.
ABC Radio, Australia wide, 26 Nov 2024, 6.30pm with Alex Hyman
Interviews with Curtin University sustainability professor Peter Newman, University of Western Australia adjunct professor Bill Grace, Brad Pettitt WA Greens MLC, Dundas Shire President Laurene Bonza. Available on ABC listen.
"We are hugely supportive of renewable as the Greens," WA Greens MLC Brad Pettitt says.
"But what we don't want to see is that come at the cost of pretty unique natural places because it doesn't need to."
“This is not really about decarbonising the West Australian economy or stopping fossil fuels.”
“It’s a huge play on a speculative future around whether green hydrogen can be made to work or not.”
“Let’s get on and do renewable energy where it matters right now, connected to the West Australian grid, decarbonising the State rather than kind of pretending that green hydrogen is going to solve all our problems.”
ABC news online, 26 Nov 2024
'Western Green Energy Hub proposal would transform the Nullarbor. What are the odds of it going ahead? - by Emily Smith, Esperance
‘Dundas Shire President Laurene Bonza, whose enormous local government region will encapsulate much of the project, finds the idea mind-boggling.
"The size and scale of it is a bit alarming," she says.
"People think there's nothing out there but it's really quite a fragile environment."
"On one hand they're saying green energy, on the other hand, how much of our green space are we destroying to get that aim?" Asked whether the local community is on board, she says many moved to the Nullarbor seeking isolation.
Ms Bonza is not sure how they will react to the influx of 8,000 workers, or even the 100–300 people required for the project's first stage.
She also has countless questions about logistics — how enough builders will be sourced, how workers will be fed and what impact construction will have on the region's single highway.’
"People think there's nothing out there but it's really quite a fragile environment."
"On one hand they're saying green energy, on the other hand, how much of our green space are we destroying to get that aim?" Asked whether the local community is on board, she says many moved to the Nullarbor seeking isolation.
Ms Bonza is not sure how they will react to the influx of 8,000 workers, or even the 100–300 people required for the project's first stage.
She also has countless questions about logistics — how enough builders will be sourced, how workers will be fed and what impact construction will have on the region's single highway.’
The West Australian, 26 Nov 24, print, p.55
'Battle of the Nullarbor: Watchdog in full review of green energy project amid cave network fears' - by Matt Mckenzie
The West Australian, 25 Nov 24, online
'Western Green Energy Hub: Ambitious hydrogen plan to get full EPA reveiw" - by Matt Mckenzie
The Australian, Editorial, 18 November 2024
'Preserve underground wonderland'
'It is too rich a heritage sacrifice for energy technology that may not stand the test of time. If destroyed, the caves beneath the Nullarbor would be irreplaceable.'
The Weekend Australian 16/17 November 2024
‘Like dropping a brick on a meringue’ : scientists step up to save the Nullarbor
WA's $100 billion 'green' project will destroy 'spectacular hidden world': scientists.
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ABC News 15 November 2024
Should the Nullarbor have World Heritage status?
WA Regional Mornings with Peter Barr - 14 November 2024
Temporarily available on the ABC listen app via link below. Note the Nullarbor interview starts at ~ 45min:40sec
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ABC News 14 November 2024
In short:
A scientific report compiled in 1992 found the Nullarbor, across WA and SA, was an excellent candidate for a World Heritage List nomination.
The West Australian side of the plain remains largely unprotected.
What's next?
Some scientists believe the area should be protected from a massive wind and solar infrastructure proposal.
Resistance Radio interview with Derrick Jensen.
Save the Nullarbor was contacted by Derrick who recorded a 45 minute interview with Stefan and Bronwen Eberhard which was aired Sunday 1st September 2024.
Conversations with Richard Fidler
Floating through the Dolines. Recorded 21 April 2021.
As a subterranean ecologist, Stefan Eberhard has spent his working life transfixed by caves and the creatures that live inside them.
He began cave diving as a young man, and was part of a team which discovered a vast underwater cathedral inside Tasmania's Junee cave system.
Some of the greatest adventures of Stefan's life have been inside the caves and dolines which lie under the Nullarbor Plain.
ABC TV News 7.30 Report
Beneath the plains of the Nullarbor lies an underground world formed over millions of years.
7.30 By Will Murray 23 April 2024