Labor says delays to Tasnetworks cable upgrades will place renewable energy projects at risk

Delays to transmission lines associated with the Marinus Link project put jobs, and the viability of hundreds of millions of dollars worth of renewable energy projects at risk, Labor says.

Labor MP Dean Winter speaks to the media on Parliament Lawns in Hobart on Friday, November 3, 2023.

Delays to transmission lines associated with the Marinus Link project put at risk the viability of hundreds of millions of dollars worth of renewable energy projects and hundreds of potential jobs, Labor says.

Tasnetworks has decided to build 60 per cent of the originally proposed transmission lines, with Palmerston-Sheffield-Heybridge and Stowport to Burnie beginning in 2025 as stage one, servicing the first Marinus Link cable.

The second stage – Staverton to Burnie via Hampshire Hills – will be built on a schedule yet to be decided once a final investment decision is made on stage one.

“Following the decision by the Australian and Tasmanian governments to stage Marinus Link so that cable one is prioritised in the first instance, Tasnetworks has reviewed the scope of its 240km North West Transmission Developments project,” Tasnetworks CEO Sean McGoldrick said.

“The project timing and staging has been revised to ensure the efficient and cost-effective delivery of the transmission network required for the first Marinus Link cable, while maintaining flexibility to deliver the network needed for a second Marinus Link cable.

“We’re working closely with landholders and key stakeholders where there are any impacts as a result of the staged delivery approach. We’re committed to working with landholders and the community to ensure they’re well-informed and the best possible outcomes are achieved for all.”

Render showing a future Robbins Island Renewable Energy Park, seen from Montagu, across Robbins Passage. Picture: Robbins Island Wind

Labor’s energy spokesman Dean Winter accused the government of a complete mishandling of energy, describing the decision as “ridiculous”.

“For ten years the government has been talking about building project Marinus and what we’ve seen this week is now them walking away from some of the biggest benefits of building new transmission,” he said.

“There are no less than six wind farms, which are now at serious risk by what they’ve announced through Tasnetworks this week

“Instead of having a minister standing up in parliament or standing up in front of the media and explaining it, this has gone out via a letter to landowners. What they are proposing to do now is move away from a significant component of this build.

“This is the component of the build that would have connected projects like Robbins Island, Jim’s Plain, Hellyer, Guildford, St Patricks Plains, Whaleback Ridge.

“These are massive projects, this is billions of dollars of private investment there was going to be flowing into Tasmania, which is now all at risk.”

Minister for Energy and Renewables Nick Duigan said Tasmanian government was “a strong supporter of renewable energy projects across Tasmania”.

“We have directed officials to continue to work with proponents to support their plans and identify suitable pathways for their developments,” he said.