Locals band together to argue against Robbins Island wind farm

A new group says Robbins Island is a great place for wind – but not for wind turbines.

The Circular Head Coastal Awareness Network, from left, Kim Anderson, Rebecca Tyers, Colleen Murfitt and Bevan Anderson at the proposed site of the bridge to Robbins Island. Picture: CHRIS KIDD

CIRCULAR Head locals have banded together to form a new group to argue that Robbins Island and the channel between it and the Tasmanian mainland are environmentally significant and no place for a massive wind farm.

Other wind farms have been built at nearby Woolnorth and Studland Bay and another is under construction at Granville Harbour.

But locals say the Robbins Island project is a much bigger proposal earmarked for a very different area.

“The area might be good when it comes to the wind side of things but a wind farm will not be good for the environment, the birds that live and migrate here and the health of Robbins Passage,” resident Bevan Anderson said.

So far, the Circular Head Coastal Awareness Network has only four members but it hopes its voice will be heard.

Former Greens leader Bob Brown and bird experts have already raised concerns about the potentialo impacts of the proposed wind farm, which will be the biggest in the Southern Hemisphere if built.

The proposed site of the start of the bridge to Robbins Island. Picture: CHRIS KIDD

UPC Renewables and the owners of the island, the Hammond family, want to construct a 200-turbine wind farm on Robbins Island and a smaller farm at Jims Plains at Montagu.

They want to build a 1.2km concrete bridge to link the island with the mainland to aid construction and carry power lines.

That bridge would stay after construction of the wind farm.

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

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

A development application for Jims Plains has gone to the Circular Head Council and the DA for the Robbins Island proposal is due to be lodged soon.

“The owners of the island have wanted to build a bridge for many years and now it seems the wind farm will provide the vehicle for that to happen,” Mr Anderson said.

Colleen Murfitt, another member of the network, said most Tasmanians were not aware just how special the coastline and the wetlands were.

“You would have to travel the world extensively to find a place as remarkable as the area around Robins Island,” she said.

Montagu resident Rebecca Tyers said she could not understand how the State Government could support such a large-scale development in a location that ticked all the boxes for protection under the convention.

Another member, Sue Monson said many locals believed the wind farm’s impact on Robbins Island and the surrounds would outweigh the benefits for the community.

“Are the 270m-high wind turbines what tourists and locals want to see for such a spectacular area of the Tarkine Coast?” she asked.