A $1.5 billion wind farm planned for the Central Highlands has been declared a major project, fast-tracking its approval process.
The decision means the Tasmanian Planning Commission, rather than local councils, will oversee a “streamlined assessment process” of the Cellars Hill Wind Farm development.
Planning Minister Felix Ellis said the government is working to make it easier for future large-scale renewable projects to get off the ground.
“We will bring to Parliament new legislation that will automatically qualify large renewable energy projects for assessment under the major projects pathway if they so choose,” he said.
“The Premier has been really clear with me as Planning Minister: ‘Find opportunities to cut red tape in the planning system.’ This is a strong example of it.”
Energy Minister Nick Duigan said if the project is approved, it will create 238 jobs during the two-year construction phase and another 14 roles once operational.
“We know that getting these projects, these large complex projects through the approvals process is a task and as a government, we are committed to seeing these things progress so that we can get them up and get them built,” he said.
Cellars Hill Wind Farm director Andrew Clark said the project includes a yearly $1,000 energy subsidy for households and businesses in Bothwell and within 12 kilometres of a turbine for the life of the project.
“We thank the Tasmanian Government for making this declaration and look forward to Cellars Hill Wind Farm contributing towards the Tasmanian Renewable Energy Target of 200% renewable energy by 2040,” he said.
