Job-creating expansion of major Woolworths facility worth millions comes to a sudden halt after 500 rare flowers are found at the site
Woolworth’s planned $63 million expansion of one of its distribution centers has been stalled following the discovery of critically endangered orchids at the site.
A field of Wyong Sun orchids, or Thelymitra adorata, was found in grass planted by the supermarket giant in Warnervale, on the NSW central coast.
The logistics center’s 1.5 hectare lawn is regularly mowed and there were no flowers when the complex was built in 2005.
The discovery of 500 of the deep blue flowers with a pink or purple column, also known as the Praying Sun orchid, is the largest ever found of the rare species.
The find accounts for 35 percent of the total number of Wyong Sun orchids known to exist.
A field of Wyong Sun orchids, or Thelymitra adorata, was found growing in grass planted by the supermarket giant in Warnervale on the NSW central coast
The logistics center’s 1.5 hectare lawn is regularly mowed and there were no flowers when the complex was built in 2005
Fewer than 1,500 specimens of the endangered species have been discovered in the past thirty years.
It is believed that the count includes flowers that may have been counted more than once.
Woolworths had sought approval from the NSW state government to expand its regional distribution center and warehouse at a cost of $67.6 million.
The expansion would result in the addition of 27,700 square meters of storage space, which is approximately the size of 3.5 football fields.
However, the discovery meant the development was referred to the federal government for assessment under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act.
Federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek agreed with her department’s findings to block the expansion and signed off on halting the project.
“The proposed action will clearly have unacceptable consequences,” she said.
A report written by a Woolworths environmental consultant said the discovery was unexpected.
The company had previously said the Warnervale factory was outdated and needed an overhaul, including new technology to increase the site’s capacity and create faster deliveries.
“The presence of (the flower) was not expected at this location as the site was previously filled approximately 15 years ago during the original construction,” the document said.
It is believed that moving the rare flowers was too risky and the expansion plan could not be redesigned as it required use of the area.
Woolworths had previously said its Warnervale factory was outdated and needed an overhaul, including new technology to increase the site’s capacity and create faster deliveries.
In a blow to the area, the expansion would create 240 permanent jobs for the region.
Wyong MP David Harris is hopeful a compromise can be reached.
“I support initiatives that create more local jobs for our growing community while protecting the unique environment we all love on the Central Coast,” he said.
Woolworths declined to comment to Daily Mail Australia.