A federal government decision on whether or not to give environmental approval to the proposed 900 megawatt (MW) Robbins Island wind farm has been delayed for a seventh time.
The deadline for a decision through the EPBC Act has been pushed out from June 27 to August 29, marking the first call to be made on the heavily contested project since Murray Watt took the reins as federal environment minister.
The previous delay had been widely expected, given that the deadline had been set at May 9, less than one week after the federal election, and before ministers in the new government were confirmed in their portfolios.
Two delays ago, in December, the extra time was needed due to concerns about Tasmanian devils, according to a statement at the time from the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water.
This latest delay comes as a bit more of a surprise.
Watt has no doubt been chipping away at a big to-do list since taking over from his predecessor, Tanya Plibersek, but has nonetheless found time to progress a heavily contested gas expansion project and to wave through a heavily contested 833 km gas pipeline, among other things.
An environment department spokesperson told Renew Economy on Wednesday that additional time was needed “to ensure all relevant information for this complex decision is thoroughly considered.”
Even the Prime Minister has weighed in, telling journalists in Launceston on Wednesday that the federal government was still considering the proposal – and reminding them that state approvals were not exactly quick, either.
“The state government had that assessment for seven years. Seven years we were waiting. So the new minister quite rightly is showing due diligence with the project,” Albanese said.
“I know there is some opposition to it, but we think that renewable energy is really important. So obviously environmental assessments have to take place in accordance with the Act.”
JOURNALIST: So, you support Robbin’s Island wind farm?
PRIME MINISTER: I support the Environmental Act being applied and the law being applied and that’s what the Minister will do. Am I a supporter of renewable energy? Yes, I am.
The $3 billion Robbins Island wind farm in the north-west of Tasmania has been in the EPBC process since 2017, when it was first determined as a controlled action by then Coalition energy and environment minister Josh Frydenberg.
In 2022, it was given approval by Tasmania’s Environment Protection Authority on the condition its 100 turbines shut down for five months a year when the parrot migrates.
That decision was overturned after Acen Australia successfully appealed to the Tasmanian Civil Administrative Tribunal.
Community group Circular Head Coastal Awareness Network (CHCAN) went to the Tasmania Supreme Court with a counter appeal, but lost that battle in February. It has vowed to fight on by opposing Acen Australia’s EPBC application.
CHCAN believes Robbins is the wrong place to build a wind farm due to its role as a habitat for the critically endangered orange bellied parrot and other wildlife, including wedge-tailed eagles and Tasmanian devils.
Developer Acen Australia continues to ready the project for construction, which it hopes – approval pending – to begin in 2026.
“Acen remain confident Commonwealth approval will be secured reflecting the robust environmental assessment undertaken by state and federal regulators, underpinned by eight years of rigorous environmental studies,” the company said in a statement on Wednesday.
Tasmania’s Liberal party has been firmly behind the project, which Acen Australia promises will put $600 million into the local economy and employ as many as 400 people during construction.
Tasmania’s Liberal energy minister Nick Duigan has described it as “vital for Tasmania” while premier Jeremy Rockliff earlier this year called on energy minister Tanya Plibersek to “get on and approve” the wind farm and stop delaying the state’s renewable energy progress.
