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Victoria wind farm guidelines for bird and bat protection
Credit: Tim Hall · 2 June 2025 · ecogeneration.com.au ~~
Wind energy developers in Victoria will face tougher scrutiny under a new government handbook aimed at minimising risks to threatened birds and bats.
The 100-page document, released by the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA), sets out risk-based protocols and technical requirements that must now inform planning and environmental assessments for onshore wind projects.
Effective from 29 May 2025, the Handbook for the development of renewable energy in Victoria mandates the use of a mitigation hierarchy – avoid, minimise, mitigate, and compensate – to manage impacts on species listed under the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988.
Projects that impact species from the newly formalised “Species of Concern” list, such as the Victorian Brolga and key bat species, will trigger more intensive scrutiny.
A key technical shift is the integration of DEECA’s Habitat Value Map and Marine Biodiversity Values Map to inform site selection and risk evaluation. These spatial tools use 75×75 metre biodiversity grid data to highlight high-sensitivity areas.
Developers must use this data in conjunction with species occurrence models and pre-construction field surveys – including acoustic bat monitoring and bird utilisation studies – to inform turbine placement and design responses.
Collision risk remains the highest-profile concern.
The handbook mandates consideration of smart curtailment, low wind-speed turbine shutdowns, and acoustic deterrent devices. Developers must also account for electrocution and barrier effects from associated transmission infrastructure and fencing.
Species-specific appendices provide further technical direction.
For example, proponents must use DEECA’s Brolga breeding habitat suitability model to identify high-risk zones. Projects encroaching on flocking areas or breeding wetlands may need to relocate infrastructure or establish buffer zones.
Where residual impacts are unavoidable, proponents will need to propose compensatory measures aligned with conservation priorities – such as habitat rehabilitation, threat abatement actions, or species monitoring programs.
These must be proportionate, scientifically justified, and ideally co-designed with Traditional Owners if species of cultural significance are affected.
Post-construction mortality monitoring and adaptive management requirements will be imposed as permit conditions. Monitoring data must be suitable for public reporting and contribute to statewide mortality datasets.
While the handbook does not override existing environmental legislation, it substantially raises the evidentiary bar.
Transitional arrangements apply, but DEECA expects voluntary early adoption by projects nearing assessment.
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| Tag: Wildlife |
