Energy | Infrastructure | Regional

What is this about?

The Whaleback Ridge Renewable Energy Project is located near Zeehan in western Tasmania, It will be developed in stages, and will establish up to 500 wind turbine generators, producing around 3,000 megawatts.

Between 30 and 50 wind turbine generators will be built in the first stage of the project. The project also includes the development of:

  • collector substations
  • access roads
  • office and workshop facilities
  • installation of overhead and underground transmission lines, and
  • the use of mobile concrete batching plants.

Temporary on-site quarries may also be required.

On 6 March 2024, the former Minister for Planning declared the proposal a major project under the Land Use Planning and Approvals Act 1993.

Who is involved?

The proponent is Westcoast Renewable Energy Pty Ltd.

Once a major project is declared by the Minister, the Tasmanian Planning Commission is responsible for assessment, including public consultation. The final decision on whether the project is approved is made by a Development Assessment Panel, appointed by the Commission.

How long will it take?

Once the Commission has decided the assessment criteria, the proponent prepares a Major Project Impact Statement, which may take 12 months or more. Including community consultation, a final decision on the project is not expected before June 2026.

The assessment  process (including time frames) is outlined in the  Commission’s flow chart.

Background

Because of their scale, major projects are assessed differently to normal development applications. There is more detail about the process available on the Development page.

Major Projects are assessed under multiple Acts, like the Environmental Management and Pollution Control Act 1994 and the Aboriginal Heritage Act 1975 and those assessments are included in the final decision. This enables the project’s complex economic, environmental and social impacts to be properly assessed. Federal Government approval may also be needed.

The proponent expects the Project to significantly contribute to achieving Tasmania’s Renewable Energy Target: a 200% increase in the State’s renewable energy production by 2040.

Lifecycle

The stages are explained in more detail in the drop down boxes below.

Eligibility

The State Planning Office assesses the eligibility of a proposal to be declared a major project

Relevant landowners and occupiers, councils, and State agencies are invited to comment on the eligibility of the proposal.

After considering comments received and the SPO’s recommendation, the Minister for Planning decides whether to declare a major project. The Minister declared Whaleback Ridge as a major project on 6 March 2024.

A copy of the declaration can be downloaded through the following Gazette link:

Major Project Declaration – Whaleback Ridge Renewable Energy - Gazette Notice

Formation of Assessment Panel

Major projects are assessed by a panel of qualified experts, appointed by the Commission.. The members of the Panel appointed for the Whaleback Ridge major project are listed in the following link:

Whaleback Ridge Renewable Energy Panel – Tasmanian Planning Commission Website

Have Your Say - Making assessment criteria

Based on advice from regulators (like Aboriginal Heritage Tasmania and the Environment Protection Authority), the Panel prepares draft assessment criteria.  The community has the opportunity to comment on the criteria that the project will be judged against between 30 June 2024 to 15 July 2024.

Whaleback Ridge Renewable Energy - assessment criteria – Tasmanian Planning Commission Website

Proponent prepares Impact Statment

The proponent’s Major Project Impact Statement must address all the assessment criteria. The Panel may seek clarifying information about the draft Major Project Impact Statement before the formal assessment process begins.

Have Your Say - Impact statement and draft assessment report

Once the Panel is satisfied that a Major Project Impact Statement contains all the necessary information, it will prepare a draft report. This is publicly exhibited with the Impact Statement. The community has 28 days to make written representations. There will also be a public hearing.

Decision

Taking into consideration the

  • advice provided by participating regulators,
  • representations received, and
  • issues raised in public hearings,

the Panel reviews  its assessment report and makes any necessary changes.

Its final decision on whether to approve or refuse the Project is made public.