This lessons learned report discussed the environmental factors that had to be considered when designing the fencing and security of the solar PV system at Lord Howe Island, and the unique resolution strategies that were employed.
Report extract
The project is situated on the world heritage listed Lord Howe Island and involves the design and installation of a 1.3MWp Solar PV plant with a 3.7MWh Battery storage System. The Solar plant is being constructed next to the existing powerhouse on the Island because the proximity to the existing powerhouse provides significant technical advantages and the plot is one of very few open areas on the Island which the Lord Howe Island Board has access to.
This plot (Plot 203) of land is also situation next to a section of woodland where a colony of Flesh Footed Shearwaters breed seasonally.
There is a noticeable proximity of the project works to the breeding area and as such the Project Technical Specification (RT019500-GN-SPC-0001_Rev0) and the conditions of consent required that any fence constructed by the project not contain any barbed wire and provide clearance (150mm) at the base to avoid entrapment of fauna (particularly ground dwelling birds) to allow breeding parents which happen to land within the fenced area to migrate back to the woodland.