Federal decision on scaled back Tasmania wind project delayed for fifth time

The St Patricks Plains wind project is now at delay number five for a decision on whether it will need approval under the federal environmental Act.

The new deadline for a decision is now November 28. 

Both the previous delay and this one were requested by developer Ark Energy, a Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water government spokesperson says. Ark Energy has been contacted for comment. 

The project is proposed for a site south-east of Milena and 25km north of Bothwell in Tasmania’s Central Highlands. 

It was originally designed as a 67 turbine site before being pared back to 50, and now 47.

The now 291 megawatt (MW) project was deemed to need federal supervision under the EPBC Act in 2019 when it was still owned by Epuron.  Ark Energy acquired the developer in 2022, which added to already-lengthy EPBC delays. 

The No Turbine Action Group (NTAG) has been an active opponent, but Ark Energy successfully defended a legal challenge and won state planning approval last month. 

St Patricks Plains is the first to be approved in Tasmania under the Environment Protection Agency’s new noise policy for wind projects.

The policy makes explicit how noise will be measured in Tasmania, with requirements including average noise readings over 10 minute blocks to prevent data being skewed by faulty equipment to better compare with background noise. 

The state’s noise policy is now in line with those of South Australia, Queensland and New South Wales, after the total limit was lowered in 2020 to 35 decibels from 40.