They are the treasured town emblem which locals fear could be obliterated by the turbines of a wind farm.
The people of Boorowa are afraid the bright green superb parrot — and seven other species of plants and animals — will be wiped out by a wind farm planned for the district, in the NSW southern tablelands.
Biodynamic farmer Charlie Arnott, who plants thousands of trees every year, said: “The poor old superb parrot is going to get caned. It’s a threatened species and Boorowa is its main breeding area. The habitat around here supports the majority of the superb parrots left in Australia, and Boorowa prides itself on the birds.
“If this wind farm goes ahead Boorowa might have to change the town emblem to a wind turbine because there might be more of them than superb parrots.”
Mr Arnott said 12 wind turbines were planned around his property and he was concerned about the impact they could have on him, his wife and three children.
Sam McGuiness, who lives on a farm 15km east of Boorowa, is also concerned that within two years more than 30 wind turbines could be placed around his property.
“A few windmills isn’t going to save the planet,” he said.
Federal Environment Minister Tony Burke said the proposed wind farm at Boorowa had been referred to the Department of Environment for assessment under national environment law.
“It’s way too early for anyone to be guessing what the outcome of that assessment may be,” he said.
