Tasmania’s planning tribunal has delivered a ‘positive verdict’ for a proposed wind farm on Robbins Island off the north-west coast in Bass Strait, a decision that has been hailed as “sensible” by its supporters and ‘a disaster’ by others.
The 100-turbine wind farm on the island has faced opposition from various groups, including local residents, conservation organisations, the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) and Circular Head Council, for around a decade since it was first proposed.
The Tasmanian Civil and Administrative Tribunal has rejected appeals against the wind farm and upheld two appeals by its proponents, ACEN, which included EPA orders to shut down turbine operations for five months during the migration of the orange-bellied parrot – an action ACEN said would have been “economically unviable”.
ACEN Australia Managing Director David Pollington welcomed the decision and said that it reflects the ‘extensive effort’ put into “exhaustive and robust environmental assessments to identify and minimise potential impacts” across several years.
He said the assessment process involved reducing the number and height of turbines, refining the project’s footprint and implementing advanced technologies like AI-driven bird flight path monitors to pause turbine operation when birds like Wedge-tailed eagles are flying through the project area.
“The economic windfall for North West Tasmania cannot be overstated – with up to 400 construction jobs for the $2.6 billion construction value, up to 65 ongoing operations and maintenance jobs and a generous commitment to shared community benefits,” he said.
But the Bob Brown Foundation has criticised the decision as “fawning” and warning of the project’s “profound and destructive” impact.
“This is part of humanity’s deliberated destruction of the natural world which sustains all life. Instead of tuning off wasted electricity, we will wreck another surviving stronghold of natural wildlife diversity in Australia,” Bob Brown said on Monday.
He called on the federal government and national environment minister Tanya Plibersek to step in and protect Robbins Island.
“As a nation, we can do better than destroy this magnificent part of our natural heritage on the altar of a wasteful and never-satisfied guzzling of more electricity.”
The Bob Brown Foundation says the proposed turbines pose a significant threat to the Orange-bellied Parrot’s annual migration through the island, Wedge-tailed Eagles and numerous shorebird species.
They also argue that the project will do “undisputed damage” to the Remarkable Banks and increase the risk of facial tumour disease spreading among the only natural colony of Tasmanian Devils on the island.
Premier Jeremy Rockliff said the decision was “great to see”, but argued “more needs to be done to secure environmental approvals for energy projects”.
“We cannot allow political agendas to get in the way of creating jobs, and lowering power bills for Tasmanian families,” he wrote on X/Twitter.
Further submissions on permit conditions will be made by December 7.
