Citizen Science

LOONGANA IS A BIODIVERSITY HOTSPOT

Our community of Citizen Scientists have had maps out and boots on the ground, working with experts to do the environmental surveys that TasNetworks refuse to do. We've collected data, confirmed by experts, that reveals the true extent of the biodiversity here, and the risks of environmental harm from TasNetworks proposed transmission line.

But first we need to go back in time...

Four years ago, when our community first heard a windfarm company wanted to run a big overhead transmission line through our valley, we were stunned. We all knew the damage it would cause our wild forests and every creature living in them.

When we protested the idea of bulldozing a 90metre-wide transmission line through biodiverse forests and picturesque tourist destinations, TasNetworks stepped in to take over building the line, with the power of the State government behind them to railroad us, and minimise or dismiss the environmental costs.

TasNetworks’ quickly formed their new preferred route, but their environmental surveys were ‘desk-top surveys’. In other words, the desk-jockeys went online and looked up the vegetation types, soil and geology overlays, previous sightings of various fauna and flora – very few of which were recent, accurate, or even there at all.

Having done their “research”, TasNetworks could claim the Loongana Valley didn’t compare to the biodiversity of, say, their alternate route through the Vale of Belvoir, where there is an existing transmission line, the Farrell-Sheffield Line, which could be upgraded.

We knew they were wrong.
We knew they hadn’t even scraped the surface of the rich, complex, interacting biodiversity here.
So we had to step up and do it ourselves.

After announcing their preferred route TasNetworks said they would follow up with what they call ‘ground-truthing’ – using 'meander surveys' which amounts to little more than a morning’s stroll along a track beside a forest, noting only that it might be ‘habitat’, and raptor nest surveys which amounts to little more than frightening birds and other wildlife with helicopters counting nests.

WHAT WE ARE DOING

So far, we've made 2,000+ observations, of 700+ species which 59+ local and expert observers have contributed.
In other words, Loongana is confirmed as a Tasmanian biodiversity hotspot, full of rare, threatened and endangered species and an important refuge for biodiversity which are rapidly disappearing. We have evidenced species which TasNetworks claimed were unlikely to be here.

2,000+ observations l 700+ species l 59+ observers

See for yourself here!

WERE TASNETWORKS INTERESTED IN OUR WORK?

Nope. Did TasNetworks acknowledge our thousands of hours of unpaid effort? Ha. Have TasNetworks agreed this valley is special because of its biodiversity? They have not. Have TasNetworks responded at all? Yes! We heard through back channels that they privately ‘backgrounded’ media and politicians about Loongana Valley residents ‘gaming the system’. It’s been implied we’re lying, even though every observation is recorded and verified (or discarded if it was poor quality).

All we’ve done is act honestly, responsibly and properly in trying to protect this place. And it’s all on record. We have many different types of habitat, they’re still linked in multiple ways, and they’re filled with a stunning array of biodiversity.

The Loongana Valley deserves and needs protection from corporate industrialisation that will cause cumulative environmental impacts not just during construction but for the entire life of the infrastructure.

Please consider helping us stop a bad project in totally the wrong place.