A federal decision on whether to approve the proposed but heavily contested 900 megawatt (MW) Robbins Island wind project has been delayed for a sixth time.
The decision has been pushed out to June 27. It was widely expected, given that the most recent delay had set a deadline for May 9, less than one week after the federal election, and before ministers in the new government had been 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.
Today, a department spokesperson said the assessment continues and a recommendation hasn’t been made yet to the environment minister.
“Additional time is needed to ensure all relevant information for this complex decision is thoroughly considered,” the statement says.
Although the $3 billion project 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, the timing for this decision was not in developer Acen Australia’s favour.
The post-election cabinet reshuffle saw environment taken from Tanya Plibersek, who will be running social services, and given to former employment minister Murray Watt.
Tough path to construction
Developer Acen Australia is still doing critical preparatory work, including progressing the Transmission Line connection to ensure the project is ready to commence construction in 2026.
But the project has also been dogged by controversy.
In 2022, the wind farm 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.
Progress versus economic viability
Tasmania’s Liberal government is 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.
State 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” and stop delaying progress.
The counter argument from former Australian Greens leader Christine Milne is that Tasmania doesn’t need the electricity from a Robbins Island wind farm.
She questioned whether it is economically viable, given the infrastructure that needs to be built to support it.
“It’s dependent on Marinus Link taking the energy to the mainland …so it’s not to meet Tasmanian demand. It is mega-development that is speculative in the national energy market,” Milne told Renew Economy earlier this year.
“So the question becomes, why would you even consider permitting that, when it’s going to have such an adverse impact on the ecosystem as a whole and on so many endangered species?”
With the price tag on Marinus Link rising ever higher – the last estimate came in at $4.8 billion – there are still question marks over whether the project will be built.
Some of the delays on EPBC approval have been blamed on the court action. Two delays ago, in December, the delay was justified by the need due to concerns about Tasmanian devils, according to a statement at the time from the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water.
