Bell Bay
What is this about?
The Minister has declared a proposed wind farm (by Equis Australia) near Bell Bay as a major project under the Land Use Planning and Approvals Act 1993 (LUPAA).
Who is involved?
In the first stage, the Minister invited landowners and others affected by the proposal including State Government agencies, local councils in the Northern Tasmania Region and the Tasmanian Planning Commission to comment on whether the proposal should be declared a major project.
Now that the Minister has declared the Bell Bay Wind Farm a major project, the Tasmanian Planning Commission is responsible for managing the further stages of the planning process.
How long will it take?
If the project is approved by a Development Assessment Panel appointed by the Commission, construction is anticipated to begin in 2027, for completion in the second half of 2029.
Background
Division 2A of the Land Use Planning and Approvals Act 1993 (LUPAA) allow for wind farms and other complex developments that require a wide range of environmental approvals under various Acts and Regulations to be assessed as a major project. You can find more information about this process on the Major Projects part of this website.
The proposed Bell Bay Wind Farm aims to increase Tasmania’s supply of reliable, renewable energy, and will operate for around 30 years.
The proposal is for up to 28 wind turbines, a battery energy storage system (BESS), and other facilities needed for the operation of a wind farm. The wind farm will be located in the vicinity of Soldier’s Settlement Road, north-east of George Town, extending to near Beechford in the east and south to Musk Vale Road. The proposal includes a new 8km transmission line to connect with the existing George Town Substation.
Lifecycle
Further detail about the steps in this process are available in the drop down boxes below.
Eligibility, Status: Complete
The State Planning Office advised the Minister that the proposal is eligible to be declared a major project, as it satisfies the eligibility criteria set out in the Act. In some cases, a proposal may be ineligible for declaration.
The Minister considered comments by affected landowners and occupiers, councils and State Government agencies prior to declaring the proposal a major project. The State Planning Office provided the Minister with copies of all submissions received.
The Minister declared the Bell Bay Wind Farm a major project on 2 August 2024.
A copy of the declaration can be downloaded through the following Gazette link:
Formation of Development Assessment Panel, Status: Complete
The Tasmanian Planning Commission will appoint a Development Assessment Panel of suitably qualified experts to prepare, invite comment on, and finalise assessment criteria. The Panel is also responsible for approving or refusing the major project.
The members of the Development Assessment Panel for the Bell Bay Wind Farm major project are listed in the following link: Bell Bay Wind Farm Development Assessment Panel – Tasmanian Planning Commission Website
Have Your Say - Making assessment criteria, Status: Complete
The Panel, when preparing major project assessment criteria, must comply with the requirements of ‘regulators’ such as Aboriginal Heritage Tasmania and the Environment Protection Authority. Regulators are government agencies whose approval of certain activities is required by the laws they administer, regardless of whether a proposal is declared a major project.
The community had the opportunity to comment on the criteria that the project will be judged against through the Tasmanian Planning Commission between 14 October 2024 until 28 October 2024.
Finalised assessment criteria were adopted on 4 Dec 2024.
Bell Bay Wind Farm - assessment criteria - Tasmanian Planning Commission
Major Project Impact Statement, Status: Not started
The proponent must prepare a Major Project Impact Statement that addresses all of the assessment criteria. While the preparation of a Major Project Impact Statement normally around 12 months, an extension of time may be granted.
Have Your Say – Major Project Impact Statement and Initial Assessment Report, Status: Not started
If the Panel is satisfied that a Major Project Impact Statement contains all the necessary information, the public will be invited to comment on the Statement and on the Panel’s Initial Assessment Report.
The community has 28 days to make written submissions on whether the project should be approved. The Panel must then hold one or more public hearings regarding the major project.
Decision – Approval or Refusal, Status: Not started
Taking into consideration the:
- advice provided by regulators,
- written comments received, and
- issues raised in public hearings,
the Panel will review its assessment report and make any necessary changes. Its final decision on whether to approve or refuse the Project is then made public.
If the major project is refused, or approved with conditions not agreed to by the proponent, there is no right of appeal and the major project process ends.