Robbins Island Windfarm Gets Labor’s Approval Amid Parrot Conservation Fears
A controversial windfarm on Robbins Island in north-western Tasmania has been approved by the Albanese government, which has promised to conserve endangered bird species such as the orange-bellied parrot.
On Friday, the environment minister, Murray Watt, authorised Acen Australia's application to build up to 100 turbines, a 1.2km bridge between the approximately 10,000-hectare island and Tasmania, a 500-metre port, and four quarries.
Watt admitted the decision would be difficult but said “the reality is we need more renewable energy being built in Australia to tackle the climate change challenge that we have”. His advice was to implement “strong environmental protections to avoid and reduce environmental damage”.
"That's what I think we did," he remarked.
Watt approved the development with strong requirements to safeguard endangered species such as the orange-bellied parrot, Tasmanian wedge-tailed eagle, Tasmanian devil, and protected migratory shorebirds.
The parrot, with a natural population of less than 100, is the subject of a substantial government-funded recovery effort. Conditions require Acen to conduct thorough parrot surveys for three years before development begins.
The Tasmanian Liberal government, the Labour opposition, and the Chamber of Business and Industry hailed the permission eight years after the development was proposed. ACEN Australia managing director David Pollington called it a “major step in unlocking one of the largest private investments in Tasmania’s history and positioning the state as a major player in Australia’s clean energy transition”.
The Bob Brown Foundation called the farm “wildlife killing” and accused the corporation of inadequate bird surveys. Calling Robbins Island, Tasmania's most important shorebird location, Birdlife Australia has appealed for the windfarm to be banned and declared a "no-go site".
Since the late 20th century, several migratory shorebird populations have declined by almost 70%.
Former Greens leader and Bob Brown Foundation supporter Christine Milne called a windfarm at the southern end of the East Asian-Australasian Flyway a “huge assault on nature and on rare birds”. Declaring the verdict “devastating for threatened species, for the environment, for the north of Tasmania”
“Of course, we need renewable energy, but every project should be assessed on its merits, not just flicked through because we intend to fast-track renewable energy,” she said. Climate and biodiversity are two sides of the same coin, and destroying threatened species is not climate-plus.
The Greens criticised Watt's choice. “Scientists and community representatives have long raised concerns about the damage a windfarm would do to the area's native wildlife, but they've been consistently ignored, and again dismissed today,” said Tasmanian Greens MP Vica Bayley.
Watt estimated that the 900MW facility, which includes the 720MW Robbins Island farm and an approved 180MW Jim's Plain farm, could reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 3.4m tonnes a year, equivalent to taking more than 1 million cars off the road.
The project required Acen to create a bird and bat management plan to “evaluate, mitigate and manage the risk of turbine collision for threatened birds”. He suggested “curtailment or shutdown of all or some turbines” at specific periods.
Watt also advised Acen to fund an orange-bellied parrot conservation program, install barriers to prevent Tasmanian devils from crossing to the island and affecting the disease-free population, and protect 1,164 hectares of devil habitat on the island. He stated that Acen could not build turbines within 1km of a wedge-tailed eagle nest.
To connect the windfarm to the electrical grid, the business needs approval for a 120km transmission line through forests and farms.
The Hammond family has run Wagyu cattle on Robbins Island since the 1960s. Paddocks, marshes, heathland, woods, peculiar geology, and magnificent coastlines are included.
Since the early this century, a wind farm has been suggested. The Tasmanian Environment Protection Authority stopped the present project in 2022 by limiting its operation to seven months a year and closing during the orange-bellied parrot migration. On appeal, the EPA ruling was overturned.
The highest court rejected the Circular Head Coastal Awareness Network's project counter-appeal.
On Friday, the environment minister, Murray Watt, authorised Acen Australia's application to build up to 100 turbines, a 1.2km bridge between the approximately 10,000-hectare island and Tasmania, a 500-metre port, and four quarries.
Watt admitted the decision would be difficult but said “the reality is we need more renewable energy being built in Australia to tackle the climate change challenge that we have”. His advice was to implement “strong environmental protections to avoid and reduce environmental damage”.
"That's what I think we did," he remarked.
Watt approved the development with strong requirements to safeguard endangered species such as the orange-bellied parrot, Tasmanian wedge-tailed eagle, Tasmanian devil, and protected migratory shorebirds.
The parrot, with a natural population of less than 100, is the subject of a substantial government-funded recovery effort. Conditions require Acen to conduct thorough parrot surveys for three years before development begins.
The Tasmanian Liberal government, the Labour opposition, and the Chamber of Business and Industry hailed the permission eight years after the development was proposed. ACEN Australia managing director David Pollington called it a “major step in unlocking one of the largest private investments in Tasmania’s history and positioning the state as a major player in Australia’s clean energy transition”.
The Bob Brown Foundation called the farm “wildlife killing” and accused the corporation of inadequate bird surveys. Calling Robbins Island, Tasmania's most important shorebird location, Birdlife Australia has appealed for the windfarm to be banned and declared a "no-go site".
Since the late 20th century, several migratory shorebird populations have declined by almost 70%.
Former Greens leader and Bob Brown Foundation supporter Christine Milne called a windfarm at the southern end of the East Asian-Australasian Flyway a “huge assault on nature and on rare birds”. Declaring the verdict “devastating for threatened species, for the environment, for the north of Tasmania”
“Of course, we need renewable energy, but every project should be assessed on its merits, not just flicked through because we intend to fast-track renewable energy,” she said. Climate and biodiversity are two sides of the same coin, and destroying threatened species is not climate-plus.
The Greens criticised Watt's choice. “Scientists and community representatives have long raised concerns about the damage a windfarm would do to the area's native wildlife, but they've been consistently ignored, and again dismissed today,” said Tasmanian Greens MP Vica Bayley.
Watt estimated that the 900MW facility, which includes the 720MW Robbins Island farm and an approved 180MW Jim's Plain farm, could reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 3.4m tonnes a year, equivalent to taking more than 1 million cars off the road.
The project required Acen to create a bird and bat management plan to “evaluate, mitigate and manage the risk of turbine collision for threatened birds”. He suggested “curtailment or shutdown of all or some turbines” at specific periods.
Watt also advised Acen to fund an orange-bellied parrot conservation program, install barriers to prevent Tasmanian devils from crossing to the island and affecting the disease-free population, and protect 1,164 hectares of devil habitat on the island. He stated that Acen could not build turbines within 1km of a wedge-tailed eagle nest.
To connect the windfarm to the electrical grid, the business needs approval for a 120km transmission line through forests and farms.
The Hammond family has run Wagyu cattle on Robbins Island since the 1960s. Paddocks, marshes, heathland, woods, peculiar geology, and magnificent coastlines are included.
Since the early this century, a wind farm has been suggested. The Tasmanian Environment Protection Authority stopped the present project in 2022 by limiting its operation to seven months a year and closing during the orange-bellied parrot migration. On appeal, the EPA ruling was overturned.
The highest court rejected the Circular Head Coastal Awareness Network's project counter-appeal.