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The 900MW Robbins Island wind farm, which would be among the biggest of its kind in the southern hemisphere on completion, faced a five-month shut down every year at the request of Tasmania’s Environment Protection Authority (EPA). 

The regulator, which approved the project with that caveat, argued it would otherwise pose a threat to the endangered orange-bellied parrot species living in the area because they could collide with operational turbines at the proposed wind farm while migrating. 

The parrot, known for its beautiful plumage, is considered critically endangered with only dozens left in the wild, according to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. 

Appeal

However, an appeal against that decision filed by developer Acen Australia was approved by the Tasmanian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (Tascat). 

In a document that detailed its judgement on that and other appeals filed by Acan, the tribunal said “given our conclusions in respect to the risk to the orange-bellied parrot, our view is that [the condition] is not proportionate to the risk and not reasonable or necessary”. 

Tasmanian premier Jeremy Rockliff, who has been vocally supportive of the project, praised the decision.

“Tasmania is the nation’s leader in renewable energy, and our government recognises the economic development and job creation that the sector holds… Today’s decision recognises that an appropriate balance needs to be struck between enabling renewable energy projects and protecting our native species,” he said. 

'Lashed out'

However the decision was met with outrage by wildlife campaigners. 

Ecological activist Bob Brown criticised the premier’s support for the ruling: “Instead of standing up for the hard-working experts in his own EPA, he has hung them out to dry. He has lashed out at the EPA workers in a way he would never treat Forestry Tasmania or Department of Mines workers. It is pretty unedifying.”