Limerick wind turbine plans will ‘decimate’ protected species

Garrane Green Energy's proposed development to build nine wind turbines described as 'devastating'

Turbines on wind farms in Connacht. The planning application to Limerick County Council seeks to build nine 176m-high wind turbines. Picture: Eamonn Farrell/RollingNews.ie

A leading bat rehabilitation specialist has raised concerns over plans to erect nine 176m-high wind turbines in the “hidden heartlands” of Limerick, saying it will “decimate protected species living there”.

A planning application has been submitted to Limerick County Council for the proposed wind turbines in the Ballynagoul, Creggane, Garrane, Charleville, and Bruree areas.

The proposal is for nine wind turbines with a tip height of 170m, as well as a rotor diameter of 150m and a hub height of 95m, plus an upgrade of existing access tracks.

However, the plans by Garrane Green Energy have caused anger among wildlife rehabbers because of the impact on local wildlife.

Susan Kirwan, from Bat Rehabilitation Ireland, told the Irish Examiner: “As someone who runs a wildlife facility here, this is devastating.

“This area is known as the hidden heartlands and reports in the past have shown this is a haven for wildlife.

“This is a very important site for migratory species.

“There are red-listed birds recorded as living here, such as the golden plover, the curlew, and shovelers, they are all listed in the Bird Watch Ireland historical studies.”

The curlew (numenius) is one of the protected bird species that reside in the region. Picture: Andy Gibson

Recent surveys of the area have also recorded eight species of bats, including the nathusius pipistrelle and the lesser horseshoe.

“The nathusius pipistrelle is a species; we have no recorded roost sites within the Republic of Ireland,” Ms Kirwan said.

“This makes it incredibly difficult to foresee how large-scale wind farms will impact their population.

“They fly and forage at a height of 4m to 15m above the ground and they are in the woodland areas, and over water and in parklands.

“This area is ideal for them and that will all be damaged if we decimate their natural habituates.

“With the lesser horseshoe, the real worry is the loss of habit for this species.

“Limerick is seen as a special and important place for them to expand their range.”

The lesser hourseshoe bat is only found in six counties in the west of Ireland.

“But due to habitat fragmentation it is causing a genetic diversion in the north and the southern population,” Ms Kirwan said.

Article 17, within the EU Habitats Directive, places an obligation on member states to provide the European Commission with six-year reports on the conservation status of protected species and habitats listed in the directive’s annexes.

These reports detail the status of these species and habitats, which are vital for biodiversity, and the implementation of measures taken to maintain them at a favourable conservation status: “As they are a sedentary species, they do not travel very far between roost sites, so it is extremely important that these sites are further surveyed to try to identify their roosts to protect them.”

The impact of the loss of linear features such as trees and hedgerows will also have a “detrimental impact” on the species, as these are used as commuting routes to travel safely from roosts to feeding grounds, foraging habitats supporting insect prey, and as navigational landmarks using echolocation to bounce calls off the surfaces.

Ms Kerwin, who has been working with bats for 15 years, said it is vital that action is taken to protect bats.

“They live extremely long lives and are vital for biodiversity” she said.

Garrane Green Energy did not response to queries.