Wind farm that sought taller turbines to avoid cockatoo strikes wins federal environmental approval

A Western Australia wind farm proposal that sought to raise the height of its turbines to avoid the blades striking black cockatoos has been given the environmental all-clear by the federal government.

Tilt Renewables said on Firday that its 108 megawatt (MW) Waddi Waddi wind farm, 150 km north of Perth, has been approved for construction by the federal environment minister, Murray Watt.

The wind farm, Tilt’s first renewable energy project in WA, sought an amendment to its plans in April, to change the maximum turbine hub height from 112m to 139m, and the tip height from 180m to 220m.

The company said the proposed change – which was put before the Dandaragan shire council – would will minimise the risk of turbine blade collisions with Carnaby’s cockatoos, which are endemic to south-west WA.

The council approved the change in July, saying the new lowest point of the turbine tip of 58m “should be sufficient to minimise the risk of collision.”

The 18 turbine wind farm has been in the planning pipelines for more than a decade. The Dandaragan shire council approved the project in its original form as a 57 turbine venture in 2012.

Changes over time have also included the reduction in turbine numbers and the addition of a direct connection to the transmission network north of the Cataby substation.

 An associated solar farm was approved for development in 2016, but that is on hold until Tilt can get the wind project underway. 

In a ministerial statement, Watt said the project’s approval comes with strict conditions to minimise its potential environmental impacts and follows a rigorous assessment process.

Watt also said the wind farm had been identified as a priority project on the National Renewable Energy Priority List.

“Since 2022, the Albanese government has given the green light to more than 100 renewable energy projects – enough to power every home in Australia,” the minister said.

“We’re producing record renewable electricity, and we are on track to transform Australia into a renewable energy superpower.”

Tilt Renewables CEO Anthony Fowler said achieving the federal green for Waddi Waddi was a “significant milestone” for the company and paved the way for the next step.

“The Commonwealth’s approval clears one of the last remaining hurdles for the project with a final investment decision on the project expected in the coming weeks,” Fowler said in a statement.

“The conditions in the approval reflect the work we have been doing with land holders and the local community to refine the proposal to minimise impacts on the local environment.”

WA senator Glenn Sterle said the project would provide a great opportunity to employ the state’s “truckies” to deliver the components for the wind farm.

“During construction this project will support up to 150 full-time construction jobs and some ongoing jobs too, so the economic benefits – as well as the extra renewable capacity – will flow to the local community,” Sterle said.

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