Whaleback Ridge wind farm proposal declared a major project by the state government
The Whaleback Ridge wind farm is only the third proposal to be declared a major project by the State Government. Find out what it means for the proposal.
West Coast
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A proposed wind farm on the West Coast has been declared a major project by the state government.
The declaration means that the Whaleback Ridge wind farm proposal will be assessed by an independent panel established by the Tasmanian Planning Commission instead of the West Coast Council.
Westcoast Renewable Energy first proposed the Whaleback Ridge project back in 2020.
The proposal includes building 500 wind turbines with a projected generation capacity of 3000 megawatts near the Meredith Range Regional Reserve on the West Coast alongside ancillary infrastructure, including access roads, electrical equipment, and operations facilities.
Planning Minister Michael Ferguson said the major project’s process was introduced in 2020 “to provide a pathway that balances certainty for proponents and transparency for the community with appropriate rigour of an independent assessment”.
“Progressing Whaleback Ridge is a step forward in realising our renewable energy agenda, increasing our on-island generation and bringing jobs and opportunity to the West Coast, all important in keeping our power prices the lowest in the nation,” Mr Ferguson said.
“The proponents estimate it will create up to 550 permanent jobs and 4500 jobs during construction, should all aspects of the project be realised.”
Mr Ferguson said Whaleback Ridge was the third proposal to be assessed under the major projects process following the new Bridgewater Bridge and North West Wind plan.
“This proposal is just the type of large-scale, complex proposal that our Major Project assessment process was designed for.”
Mr Ferguson said that despite the government being in caretaker mode, it was still allowed to declare proposals to the major projects process under legislation.
“A suitable submission to enter the Major Projects pathway was only submitted in recent months.
“I made the declaration within 48 hours of receiving the recommendation.”
Clean Energy Tasmania chair Ian Jones welcomed the declaration of the Whaleback Ridge wind farm as a major project.
“Tasmania is in desperate need of additional renewable generation to help local businesses grow and to keep downward pressure on power prices,” Mr Jones said.
“Whaleback Ridge, when fully completed will be a massive boost to our economy, it will support jobs in regional Tasmania and it will help unlock our renewable energy potential.
“This project is fundamental and will be transformative for Tasmania.
“It will also underpin planned upgrades to the transmission network in the North West, and we would like to hear from both parties about how they will ensure the upgrades take place in a timely and cost-effective way.”
However, Labor energy and renewables spokesperson Dean Winter criticised the announcement, saying the project should have already been approved.
The Bob Brown Foundation also described the Whaleback Ridge proposal as “ill-conceived and undercooked”.
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