Proponent behind Robbins Island wind farm wins appeal against nearby eco-tourism development

The proponent behind a controversial wind farm has won an appeal against a nearby eco-tourism development. Discover how.

Robbins Island, in Tasmania's far northwest, is a haven for thousands of migratory and resident bird species, but also the proposed site for a 100-turbine wind farm. Picture: Bob Brown Foundation

The company behind a controversial wind farm proposal in Tasmania’s North-West has successfully blocked the construction of a nearby eco-tourism development after arguing it would interfere with the operations of its prospective renewable energy park.

The Philippines-based ACEN Australia has plans to build a $350m, 200MW wind and solar farm, known as Jim’s Plain Renewable Energy Park, at West Montagu, for which Circular Head Council granted planning approvals in 2020.

The energy giant has also been given the green light to proceed with a $1bn, 900MW renewable energy project on Robbins Island, located just a few kilometres off the state’s far North-West Coast.

In September last year, the council granted a permit to Rancho Six Pty Ltd for the use and development of eight single bedroom “eco-cabins” and associated works on land adjoining the Jim’s Plain project and located within a private timber reserve.

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

ACEN filed a notice of appeal against the council and Rancho Six the following month, and subsequently applied to the Tasmanian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (TASCAT) to amend its ground of appeal.

The company argued that the Rancho Six development would have “an unacceptable impact on the use, development and operation of the Jim’s Plain Renewable Energy Park”.

Its amended grounds of appeal related to noise emission limits. ACEN told TASCAT that the proximity of the visitor accommodation to the proposed wind farm could mean ACEN would be unable to comply with noise limits set out in its planning permit.

In a decision handed down by TASCAT on March 25, a panel comprising the tribunal’s deputy president Richard Grueber and ordinary member Kate Loveday said that three of the five grounds of appeal were made out and therefore ruled that the decision by Circular Head Council to grant a permit for Rancho Six’s application be set aside and refused.

Wind monitoring station for the proposed wind farm at Robbins Island. PICTURE CHRIS KIDD

While the panel acknowledged that the development was appropriate for a rural location and rejected the notion that its use contravened the Forest Practices Act, it agreed with the appellant that it was not an operational requirement that the accommodation be built in a rural area.

It also ruled that the proposed wind farm on the adjoining site constituted an existing use and that the eco-tourism development could “interfere with or constrain” ACEN’s Jim’s Plain project.

The Jim’s Plain Renewable Energy Park will boast up to 31 turbines, as well as a 40MW battery and 40MW of solar capacity.