Queensland windfarm backed by Apple and Andrew Forrest sparks warning over impact on threatened species

Developer, Windlab, wants to put 80 turbines and 150km of tracks on a site inland from Ingham to build the Upper Burdekin windfarm, 4.8km from the boundary of the Wet Tropics world heritage area.

A public environment report published by Windlab says 769 hectares will need to be cleared, including the habitat of four nationally threatened species:

Windlab will use biodiversity offsets to lessen the impact on the species, which means buying and protecting suitable habitat nearby. It has identified four potential sites but has not yet finalised the offsets plan.

Scott Buchanan, executive director of the Wet Tropics Management Authority, said the authority would make a submission to the project before a consultation period closed on 3 April.

Apple announced last year that it had an agreement to buy power for 15 years from the windfarm.

Windlab will submit its final report to the federal government for environmental approval later this year. The company has said it expects to start construction in 2024 and start sending power to the grid in 2026.

The Guardian has approached Andrew Forrest for comment.