This article is from page 10 of the 2008-02-05 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 10 JPG
AN EAST Clare-based multina- tional firm is to put in place a series of measures to ensure the continued conservation of a local bat commu- nity living near a wind turbine to be erected on its property.
Last year, Clare Coun- ty Council deferred planning approval to Ol- ympus Diagnostica for a wind turbine due in part to the need for a device to keep bats away from the structure.
The company, which is based between O’Callaghan’s Mills and ‘Tulla, lodged the plans for the turbine to source 40 to 50 per cent of its electricity needs from alterna- tive energy.
The turbine will be 200 feet high, which is half the size of the industry norm. As the company will consume all the energy from the wind-turbine, there is no need for a grid connec- tion. The company pointed out that the site for the turbine was not with- in any recognised flight path of the Whooper Swan and the Greenland White Fronted Goose.
As part of the project, Olympus Diagnostica is planning to place an ultrasonic “scarer” that will provide
a signal to all bat species likely to encounter the motors.
A comprehensive bat survey of the area has found a “significant” number of Lesser Horsehoe Bats who use a local stables as a night roost. Accord- ing to the survey, between five and
20 Lesser Horseshoe bats use this roost each night before returning to the main roost.
The company is pro- posing to provide 20 bat boxes to provide roosts away from the Zone of potential im- pact and to use the ul- trasconic “‘scarer”’ on a trial basis. With these elements in place, the wind-turbine should have no impact on the
local bat population.
The bat survey found that the area around the turbine site was “the only location where no bat activity was recorded”.
The turbine is facing opposition from a local family. In their objec- tion, Mr and Mrs JP Murphy and family state that the proposal is “in- considerate to the local landscape and setting of Rosslara Lake and its woodland surroundings.”