The developers behind a contentious Central Highlands wind farm have promised to “be a good neighbour” after receiving approval from the local council to move forward.
Ark Energy’s St Patricks Plains Wind Farm will feature 47 wind turbines capable of generating 300 megawatts of electricity, located about 25km north of Bothwell.
The Central Highlands Council waved through the project at a special meeting on Tuesday.
The Environment Protection Authority (EPA) previously approved the $575 million project in early July after determining it could be managed in an “environmentally sustainable and acceptable manner”.
However, locals remained opposed the plan due to concerns about the noise it would produce, its visual impact and its potential effect on wedge-tailed eagles.
The ‘No Turbine Action Group’ claimed the council was ‘rushing’ the development, giving those opposed and councillors just two and a half business days to prepare for the meeting.
Ark Energy’s General Manager of Development for Tasmania Donna Bolton said the company was pleased the project, which has been in the works since 2019 and undergone several design iterations, including the removal of 20 wind turbines, was approved.
“We thank our host landowners and community members for their ongoing support and look forward to progressing the project and providing more information to the growing list of local residents, suppliers and business owners excited by the opportunity to be part of this project,” she said.
“We have worked hard to avoid and minimise potential environmental impacts and the unavoidable environmental impacts are manageable, as shown by the EPA’s report.”
Minister for Energy and Renewables Nick Duigan said the project was a “big step in growing Tasmanian’s renewable energy resource”.
“This project will also make a significant contribution to achieving our Renewable Energy Target, to double energy production by 2040,” he said.
“Any renewable energy development is subject to rigorous and independent development, environmental and cultural heritage assessments across the three tiers of government, with public consultation a critically important part of that process.”
Ark is now awaiting a third and final decision from the Australian Department of Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Water.
