Commonwealth approves 100-turbine wind farm while environmentalists fear for endangered species in Tasmania

ABC NEWS (Australia)

After years of delays, the largest wind farm project in Tasmania’s history has received final Commonwealth approval. The decision to proceed with the Robbins Island wind farm has been welcomed by the proponent and the state government, but environmental groups have vowed to continue to fight against it.

Transcript

00:00A remote, windswept island that's been the focus of intense environmental debate.

00:07Home to a wide range of bird life and on the migratory path for the critically endangered orange-bellied parrot,

00:13Robins Island will now also host a 100-turbine wind farm.

00:18Federal Environment Minister Murray Watt giving final Commonwealth approval after seven delays.

00:24We simply will not be able to tackle the climate change challenge that we have as a nation.

00:29Without more renewable projects being delivered.

00:33It follows years of assessments and legal challenges from environmental groups.

00:38We've done everything we can on the scientific evidence we've got available to put in place conditions for this project.

00:44The Commonwealth has placed 88 conditions on the wind farm.

00:48These include funding for the Tasmanian Government's orange-bellied parrot conservation program,

00:54barriers on a new bridge to protect facial tumour-free Tasmanian devils on the island,

01:00and a bird management plan which could include temporary turbine shutdowns.

01:05This plan will be finalised by Mr Watt before construction starts, which the company expects will be in late 2027.

01:13The sense that we might need to shut down turbines, we believe, is not going to be necessary.

01:21We already see turbine curtailment in lots of wind farms in Tasmania, certainly in the northeast.

01:27The Identiflight system automatically curtails using AI when it detects an eagle.

01:33The 212-metre-tall turbines will be built on farmland around the centre of the island.

01:39There will also be a 500-metre-long wharf off the northeast shore,

01:44and transmission lines still to be approved.

01:46The 900-megawatt project could provide power for up to 400,000 homes.

01:51We know we need more generation in our state as the economy continues to grow.

01:57Environmental groups vowing to continue campaigning against it,

02:01although legal avenues may now be exhausted.

02:04The last thing a species that is critically endangered with one foot in the grave needs is a new threat.

02:10It's really, it breaks me actually, it really does.

02:14Here in Tasmania we've got the most incredible wildlife and we're prepared to just let it go.

02:21A balancing act between unique environments and the push for a renewable future.

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