Epuron clearly holds a very different view of what 'consultation' means, to that of the local community. Alas, we are not alone in our experience. Epuron has a history of hosting "community information sessions" instead of meetings and consultation. Epuron's definition of these 'information sessions' is to lay out company information (propaganda), on the table, to hang up posters. To deliberately NOT engage with attendees. To avoid questions. To claim consultation has occurred with Traditional Owners, and with communities when it has not.
For anyone who did not attend the Ravenshoe "community information session" this is what occurred:
https://www.facebook.com/fb.Matt.Lachlan/posts/243191994314423
And this is how Epuron reported it:
https://epuron.com.au/news/2021/9/19/252-information-session-held-in-ravenshoe/
In Tasmania, locals have experienced similar conduct from Epuron with regards to their Western Plains project SW of Stanley.
Kerry Houston, secretary of Respect Stanley Peninsula – No Wind Turbines Inc. says "I don’t think Epuron like to hold town hall meetings, and instead do drop in sessions to divide and conquer. They have only had one drop in session in Stanley in 2018, and then in 2021 announced they were ready to lodge a development application and have another drop in session."
"The community protested at the 2021 session! Their lack of engagement is amazing. We’ve complained to the Clean Energy Council about the charter they’ve signed. We don’t think they are adhering to it."
Victoria Onslow, from the No Turbine Action Group is facing an uphill battle with Epuron over the St Patrick's Plains development in Tasmania. This proposed site is prime habitat for the Tasmanian Wedge Tailed Eagle (Aquila audax fleayi), with a staggering 18 nests found within or close to the development boundary.
The Tasmanian Wedge Tailed Eagle is a sub-species endemic to Tasmania. It is listed as ENDANGERED (Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999).
On the 4th December 2021 a community organised consultation meeting took place in Ravenshoe. Epuron was invited well in advance and failed to attend. Instead Epuron sent a 'consultant' who would not speak, would not answer questions, yet the same 'consultant' has had no hesitation in attempting to arranging one on one private meetings with individuals regarding the development.
Epuron states it will hold another 'community information session' early in 2022...
No consultation. No respect for the environment. No respect for community.
Epuron's Wind Farm project history is as follows. According to their own data, to date they have seven "completed" Wind Farm projects. Epuron considers approval as completion. These projects are then sold off. Of these seven projects none of them are currently owned by Epuron.
Three were sold to Goldwind, a Chinese wind turbine manufacturer.
The business model is as follows. A subsidiary company is set up by Epuron. In the case of the Chalumbin Wind Farm Project the company is Chalumbin Wind Farm PTY LTD (CWF).
That company then seeks approval to develop a specific wind farm project. Once approved, that company and development project is then sold.
Perhaps this helps explain Epuron's utter disregard for community consultation and for environmental concerns. Given Epuron will not own the project once construction begins, they can not be held legally accountable for the environmental destruction, and damage caused to communities by the development.
UPDATE: December 2021 Korean Zinc Co Ltd purchases Epuron.
According to the Australian Parliamentary Senate Select committee final report on Wind Farms, "On a conservative estimate, each RET* -eligible company receives in excess of $500 000 a year for each turbine"^.
Based on that conservative estimate, the Korean owners of Chalumbin Wind Farm stand to earn $47 million per year in taxpayer funded subsidies once this development is complete.
In effect, Australian taxpayers would be paying this company for the privilege of destroying the critical habitat of three vulnerable or endangered species. Habitat which borders the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area.
*(RET- Renewable Energy Targets).
^Source: The Senate Select Committee on Wind Turbines final report August 2015 (chapter 7.53)
STOP THE CHALUMBIN WIND FARM!
Copyright © 2021 Matt Lachlan