Wind farm decision delayed as federal minister accused of ‘kicking can down the road’

A decision on the controversial wind farm in the far North-West has once again been delayed and a new deadline set.

Robbins Island, far northwest Tasmania, where there are plans for a 100-turbine wind farm. Credit: Bob Brown Foundation.

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Tasmania’s peak business body says the latest federal delay in ruling on a $1.6 billion, 100-turbine wind farm proposed for Robbins Island had undermined the state’s economic reputation.

In a widely anticipated decision announced on Friday, the Department of Climate Change, Energy and the Environment and Water ordered a fresh deadline extension for Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek to decide whether or not to approve the controversial renewable electricity project.With Minister Plibersek’s cut-off pushed out from 7 March to 9 May — to allow the department more time to scientifically analyse the migration habits of the critically endangered Orange-bellied parrot — supporters of the wind farm expressed concerns the government might not make a decision before the next federal election.

Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry chair Wayne Davy said ACEN’s Robbins Island wind farm promised an economy-boosting surge in jobs and investment in the state.

Mr Davy said the ongoing lack of certainty in the project was undermining Tasmania’s economic potential.

TCCI Chair Wayne Davy.

Robbins Island wind farm is absolutely essential,” he said.

“Demand for power in Tasmania is growing and if we don’t bring online more generation soon, there will be consequences.

“We are already seeing that some investments have been delayed or scrapped entirely because there isn’t enough energy.

“Robbins Island will help address that, but unfortunately Canberra can’t make up its mind.

“We have over $20 billion worth of renewable energy projects proposed for Tasmania, but if the Federal Government continues to act like this, all of that is at risk.”

“In partnership with a number of other peak groups we have already called for major parties to commit to Robbins Island and the TCCI is also advocating for improving the EPBC Act decision-making process to ensure projects like Robbins Island have the certainty they need.”

A department spokesperson said additional time was needed “to ensure all relevant information for this complex decision is thoroughly considered”, particularly in relation to the migratory Orange-bellied Parrot.

“The department’s assessment remains ongoing, and a recommendation has not yet been made to the Minister,” the spokesperson said.

While the latest federal delay was labelled “unacceptable” by Clean Energy Tasmania, and described as a disastrous decision for North West jobs by Liberal candidate for Braddon, Mal Hingston, Robbins Island proponent ACEN said it remained confident the project would meet all necessary criteria to proceed to the construction phase.

ACEN chief operating officer David Pollington.

ACEN Australia managing director David Pollington said he was optimistic the wind farm would ultimately secure Commonwealth approval, following what he described as “rigorous” environmental assessments by state and federal regulators.

“The project continues to represent a transformative opportunity for Tasmania’s renewable energy future, delivering significant environmental, social and economic benefits,” Mr Pollington said.

“Despite the delay, ACEN Australia is continuing critical preparatory work, including progressing the transmission line connection to ensure the project is ready to commence construction in 2026.”

The Bob Brown Foundation urged Minister Plibersek to reject the project, saying the wind farm risk the future of 25 species of Commonwealth-listed birds, and raising fears that a new 1.6km bridge to the island would allow the transmission of Devil Facial Tumour Disease.

“If after seven years the proponent of the Robbins Island Wind Farm has failed to convince successive ministers that it can operate without impacts on our ... threatened and endangered species, it should be rejected,” spokesperson Scott Jordan said.

EARLIER: The federal Environment Minister has once again delayed a decision on the proposed wind farm at Robbins Island.

The Department of Climate Change, Energy and the Environment and Water has published a notification of an extension to making a decision on whether or not to approve the wind farm.

Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek now has until May 9, 2025 to make a decision, the published document outlines. A decision was expected today, March 7 — which was an extension on an earlier deadline.

Clean Energy Tasmania slammed the delay as “unacceptable”.

“Clean Energy Tasmania believes Robbins Island stacks up. It’s a great project that will help the State realise its clean energy potential, create jobs and drive investment,” chair Ian Jones said.

The Tasmania Chamber of Commerce and Industry has spoken out against the decision.

Chair Wayne Davy said the lack of certainty was undermining Tasmania’s economic potential.

“Robbins Island is a great project that will create jobs, investment and huge benefits for the Tasmanian economy,” Mr Davy said.

MORE TO COME.

Initial: Stakeholders are waiting with bated breath over whether a decision on a controversial wind farm will be made before the federal election, while others have pre-empted a delay.

In December, a day before the deadline on a decision for the Robbins Island Wind Farm was due the department of climate change, the energy, the environment and water extended the time for which federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek had to make her decision until Friday March 7.

On Thursday independent MP for Braddon Craig Garland, a vocal opponent of the project, said in its attempt to “appease everyone” the federal government was likely to “kick the can down the road” and delay the decision again on Friday.

The western side of Robbins Island. PICTURE CHRIS KIDD

“If I were a betting man I’d say she will delay again,” Mr Garland told the Mercury.

“I’ll be p…ed off if she comes out and approves it,” he said.

“If she went on all the available evidence including on the Aboriginal heritage, the orange-bellied parrot, the thousands of migratory shorebirds- she’d knock it on the head.”

Energy and renewables minister Nick Duigan said the Tasmanian government backed the project “to the hilt” and he also believed Ms Plibersek would “kick this can down the road until the election is called”.

He said March 7 was “D-Day" for the project and Ms Plibersek “couldn’t afford” to delay her decision again.

“We should already know where the Federal Minister sits on this vital project vital for Tasmania,” Mr Duigan said in a release.

Liberal MP Felix Ellis and Liberal candidate for Braddon Mal Hingston pre-empted Ms Plibersek’s decision in a media release on Thursday following news she had approved three controversial wind farms in her own state.

Mr Hingston said the decision had been delayed until “at least May”.

Mr Ellis said Ms Plibersek approving the wind farms in her state and not making the decision on Robbins was “proof” federal Labor was “more interested in shirking their responsibility as a government to shore up mainland, inner-city votes”.

Ms Plibersek’s department was contacted but did not respond by deadline.

The Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act Portal showed the last decision notice posted on the referral was from December 2024.

Originally published as Wind farm decision delayed as federal minister accused of ‘kicking can down the road’