Robbins Island wind farm ruling ‘devastating’ for orange bellied parrots

A tribunal has overturned a requirement for a proposed wind farm to shut down for five months each year to protect migrating orange bellied parrots, in a major victory for industry.

A wild prange-bellied parrot. Picture: Supplied

A tribunal has overturned a requirement for a proposed wind farm to shut down for five months each year to protect migrating orange-bellied parrots, but conservationists may appeal.

Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff on Monday welcomed as “pragmatic” an appeal ruling by the Tasmanian Civil and Administrative Tribunal on the Robbins Island wind farm, proposed for the state’s far northwest.

He said the decision effectively overruled an Environment Protection Authority ruling that would have killed off the $1.6bn project and set what the industry regarded as a dangerous precedent.

“Today’s decision recognises that an appropriate balance needs to be struck between enabling renewable energy projects and protecting our native species,” Mr Rockliff said. “As a government and as a society, we have responsibilities to both.”

However, the Bob Brown Foundation, which along with a number of parrot experts had supported the five-month shutdown remaining a condition of approval, labelled the decision “a terrible outcome”, and was considering an appeal.

“We now have this species, of which there only 74 left on the planet, and which sits on the brink, and we’re going to have the largest wind farm in the southern hemisphere right in the middle of its migratory path,” said BBF spokesman Scott Jordan. “It’s unacceptable. We can’t understand how they’ve come to this decision.”

Mr Jordan said it was now up to federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek to stick to her promise of no more extinctions by blocking the 900MW, 100-turbine wind farm. He said the island was used by 24 bird species, some endangered, and could have a devastating impact on the orange-bellied parrot and other species.

The proposed site of the Robbins Island wind farm development. Picture: Chris Kidd

Proponent ACEN expressed relief at the decision. “The tribunal’s decision to remove the EPA’s disproportionate five-month shut down condition as part of its project approval for Robbins Island Wind is welcome news to ACEN Australia and, I am sure, other renewable energy developers right across the nation,” said ACEN Australia managing director David Pollington.

“The outcome reflects the considerable effort that has gone into conducting a comprehensive environmental assessment, ensuring the project aligns with ACEN Australia’s commitment to responsible and sustainable development.”

“ACEN Australia has undertaken exhaustive and robust environmental assessments to identify and minimise potential impacts. This iterative process included reducing turbine numbers and heights, refining the project footprint, incorporating sophisticated technologies like AI-driven bird flight path monitors to stop turbines when birds such as wedge-tailed eagles are flying through the project area.”

Tasmania’s business community also welcomed the decision. “All of Australia needs to do more to ensure we have the energy supply we need for our future,” said Tasmania Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief executive Michael Bailey.

“This is great news for the Robbins Island project … for Tasmanian businesses and … for Tasmania’s potential to be a renewable energy powerhouse.”

Mr Rockliff also expressed concern about the approval process for wind farms, and vowed to seek “urgent talks” with the Albanese government to remove impediments to such projects.

The tribunal heard conflicting advice from orange-bellied parrot experts as to the likely impact of the turbines on the fragile species, sustained via a taxpayer-funded breeding program. Ultimately, it sided with ornithologist Brett Lane, who gave evidence the five-month shutdown was out of proportion with the risks.