The federal government has approved a 100-turbine wind farm on Robbins Island in north-west Tasmania following seven delays to the decision and multiple court appeals. The up to 900-megawatt facility will be the largest wind farm in Tasmania and will be built on the known migratory path of the critically endangered orange-bellied parrot.

Federal Environment Minister Murray Watt confirmed the project's approval after it was delayed seven times by his predecessor, Tanya Plibersek, since 2022, while she had been awaiting a decision brief from the department. The project, developed by ACEN Australia, required Commonwealth approval due to its potential impact on the orange-bellied parrot and a facial tumour disease-free population of Tasmanian devils.

Strict Environmental Conditions Imposed

The Commonwealth has placed 88 conditions on the project to ensure the protection of nationally protected species. The conditions are designed to safeguard the orange-bellied parrot, Tasmanian devil, Tasmanian wedge-tailed eagle, and protected migratory shorebirds. A key requirement includes a "bird and bat plan" that may necessitate the wind farm's shutdown to prevent impacts on endangered species.

Minister Watt explained that under the management plan, there could be a temporary pause to all or some of the wind turbines. The management plan requires ministerial approval, and Watt stated he will examine impacts on critically endangered or endangered species very carefully when deciding whether to approve it.

Additional conditions include comprehensive surveys conducted over three years prior to construction beginning and a requirement for ACEN to provide funding for an orange-bellied parrot conservation program. The wind farm project for the island has been in the making for 20 years.

Construction Timeline and Developer Response

The federal government expects construction to begin in 2031, although ACEN Australia is hopeful of starting by late 2027 or early 2028. Minister Watt said there would be time for a comprehensive bird and bat plan to be developed before construction begins. ACEN Australia Managing Director David Pollington noted that the federal government's decision provided certainty for the project.

He stated that the decision demonstrates that large, complex projects can be delivered responsibly, balancing overall impacts and conserving biodiversity while addressing the need for clean energy to mitigate climate change. Pollington noted the approval comes at a time when Australia faces a stalling energy transition and looming power shortages as coal exits the system.

Pollington expressed confidence that the wind farm could avoid shutdown conditions, stating that the data available had not supported the need for a pause.

Legal Challenges and Policy Changes

While being considered by the Commonwealth, the wind farm faced appeals in Tasmania's planning tribunal and the Supreme Court. These appeals included overturning a condition from Tasmania's EPA that would have required the facility to shut down for five months per year. The Tasmanian government changed its coastal policy to allow structures to be built on actively mobile landforms to accommodate the project.

The wind farm proposes a 500-metre wharf across tidal land and beaches, and includes a bridge between Robbins Island and mainland Tasmania across the tidal Robbins Passage. ACEN had to address potential impacts on a population of Tasmanian devils on the island that do not have facial tumour disease. The USD 3 billion project also requires approval of transmission lines, which ACEN Australia hopes to achieve next year.

Environmental Opposition

The wind farm has received widespread opposition from environmental groups, including the Bob Brown Foundation, which was part of the initial appeals against the wind farm. The Bob Brown Foundation described the project as "wildlife killing." Circular Head Coastal Awareness Network president Alice Carson said the decision was expected but difficult to digest.

Carson expressed her emotional response to the approval, stating it breaks her and highlighting Tasmania's incredible wildlife. Robbins Island is home to many different bird species, including bar-tailed godwits and the critically endangered curlew sandpiper.

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