Turning tree stumps into fish habitat

06/03/2019

Tree stumps removed during Downer’s construction of Neoen’s Numurkah Solar Farm are now serving a new purpose.

The tree stumps, also known as snags (an inland equivalent of coastal reefs), are providing habitat for native fish in the Nine Mile Creek, near Numurkah in northern Victoria. These snags improve the habitat for the fish who use them as shelter from fast currents, sunlight and predators.

Downer Executive Director of Utilities, Trevor Cohen, said ensuring minimal impact on the environment is a key focus of Downer’s sustainability commitment.

“This initiative is a great example of the close partnership with our customer, Neoen, and the local community to deliver environmental benefits.

“The team should be congratulated on how they have kept their local community top of mind during the construction process.”

Managing Director for Neoen Australia, Franck Woitiez, said “At Neoen, all our projects aim to protect, retain and restore natural resources and the environment.”

“We worked closely with Downer and our ecology partners to assess the site and make decisions that minimised our developments’ impact on flora and fauna. We are glad to find a sustainable use for the tree stumps and look forward to delivering more reliable and competitive energy to the people of Victoria once Numurkah begins operating in May 2019.”   

Numurkah Solar Farm is a 128 MW renewable energy project. Upon completion, it will generate over 255 GWh of emission-free, clean, competitive renewable energy per annum.