LNG construction kills wildlife

ANIMALS have been killed or injured as a result of liquefied natural gas (LNG) construction on Curtis Island.

The Queensland Gas Company (QGC) confirmed with The Observer today that over the last six weeks there have been seven wildlife fatalities.

“Our contractors Bechtel have been operating at the site for about six weeks and in that time there have been seven wildlife fatalities, comprising two possums, two Boobook owls, two squirrel gliders and a kingfisher chick,” the QGC spokesperson said.

“We have been working closely with our contractors Bechtel to minimise impacts on wildlife from construction works for an LNG plant at Curtis Island.

“This work has involved some limited land clearing under a Queensland Government-approved environment management plan and broader Federal Government approval, with ecologists on site to monitor our activities and to tend to any injured animals.”

Even though there have been wildlife injuries and death, QGC have confirmed that they have been operating under the environmental impact statement (EIS) approved by the Queensland and Federal governments.

The QGC spokesperson said typically, injuries to animals were from the felling of trees as part of the site clearing.

“We record all fatalities and injuries to wildlife, and report these numbers to the Queensland Department of Environment and Resource Management,” the spokesperson said.

“Injured animals are taken to animal welfare centres for rehabilitation, before being released.”

The Observer contacted the DERM and sources confirm that they have received reports from QGC, but they had not responded by late this afternoon.