Robbins Island wind farm: A 1.2km concrete bridge will link project to Tassie mainland

The company behind a controversial wind farm on Robbins Island wants to build one of state’s longest bridges to link the project to mainland Tasmania.

Artist impression of the proposed 1.2km bridge across to Robbins Island.

THE proponents behind a controversial wind farm in Tasmania’s far northwest will build a bridge between the mainland and Robbins Island to help it construct the 200-turbine project and carry electrical cables off the island.

UPC Renewables said it had revised its initial plan to build a causeway and bridge and now plan to construct a 1.2km bridge to link the wind farm to Montagu and its Jim’s Plains energy park.

“Taking into consideration additional hydrodynamic modelling, community feedback and

some innovative design we have been able find a solution that is all bridge,” the company said in its latest project update.

Concrete or rock ramps will connect the bridge to the land either side of Robins Passage.

The company says piles 15m apart would allow water to flow freely through the passage and its single-lane precast concrete structure will not stop recreational vehicles accessing Robbins Passage from Robbins Island Rd.

BOB BROWN AGAINST WIND FARM

UPC Renewables said it had lodged its development application for the Jim’s Plain energy park and it has been asked to give the Circular Head Council extra information before it is put on public exhibition.

“We expect to lodge the Robbins Island Development Application in the next few months,” the company said.

PROPOSAL TO BUILD HUNDREDS OF 270m TURBINES

Its mega 170-km transmission line to carry power from its wind farms to Sheffield to be fed into the main grid had also changed considerably.

“TasNetworks has developed a NW Tasmania transmission strategy to support the long term development of renewable energy projects, as well as Project Marinus and Battery of the Nation,” the update says.

170km POWERLINE PLAN REVEALED

“This will result in TasNetworks developing a line from Sheffield to Hampshire which will be paid for and used by UPC.

“If this line ends up being used for Project Marinus and passes the regulatory steps required to become part of the shared network, then it would be paid for by customers in accordance with the National Electricity Rules. The change to the transmission line route is a result of the release of TasNetworks’ Annual Planning Report 2019.

“This leaves UPC to find a transmission line route from Robbins Island to Hampshire.”

The company says it is “committed to consulting with affected landowners, key stakeholders and the broader community to ensure their views are considered in the line’s design process.

“We have taken on feedback and we’re currently realigning the route in various places; and we hope to have a revised route to share with the community in the near future. The

majority of the Robbins Island to Hampshire transmission line route will cross forestry land and some sections will cross private land,” it said.

Later this month scientists will use binoculars and telescopes to locate and record eagles at set sites around the wind farm sites to determine how many birds there are and their flight paths and flight behaviour.

“We have also continued our investigations into bird detecting technologies; and most recently have been considering radar-cameras which, as like the Identiflight technology being trialled at the Cattle Hill Wind Farm, enables turbines to be temporarily shutdown to avoid collisions