Media release – No Turbine Action Group, 23 June 2021

COMMUNITY CONSULTATION NOT ON ENERGY DEVELOPMENT AGENDA

Representatives from wind farm affected communities have been left off the Tasmanian Renewable Energy Development Conference list of speakers and this attitude by the wind farm industry is why Stanley and Central Highland Lakes communities protested says David Ridley, Chair of No Turbine Action Group Central Highlands (NTAG).

The conference looked at Battery of the Nation, Marinus and wind farms but not one of the 30 invited speakers came from a Tasmanian community impacted by turbines.

A short 40-minute session about community and stakeholder engagement is tacked on to the end of a two-day talkfest but does not involve any community speakers nor anyone who has a contrary view about Marinus and the so-called Battery of the Nation.

“Consultation is more than trying to bribe local communities with a few trinkets under the industry’s community fund or holding so-called information sessions but not addressing community concerns together with community people. Community engagement is more than ticking the box, pretty brochures and words without action.”

Community consultation is said to be at the heart of a Framework document to implement the 200% Renewable Energy Policy, but it was missing from the Draft Framework Document, from the conference, and the wind industry’s make-up.

Wind farm developers need a social license to operate from Tasmanians, but it does not even register as a main driver for the wind industry.

“NSW recognises a social licence to operate is central to renewable energy and Renewable Energy Zones. Under legislation passed by the NSW parliament, the NSW government has the power to prohibit projects from connecting to the grid within a Renewable Energy Zone where there is significant opposition from the community in the local area.”

Almost 100 wind farms the size of Granville Harbour are being quietly targeted for Tasmania under the draft Framework (roadmap) for the government’s 200% renewable target – equivalent to 31 in the Midlands & Central Highlands, 40 in north-west and 12 in the east.

“Tasmanians are not convinced iconic areas of the Tasmanian landscape as well as the Tasmanian brand should be harmed by wind farms built in the wrong place, for mainland benefit, but at Tasmania’s social and environmental cost. The unique and natural landscape of Tasmania we all love will be lost.”

Tasmania is already 100% renewable. The 200% renewable target is arbitrary and is 100% more than Tasmania needs. Unviable wind farms and renewables in Tasmania are already propped by the Tasmanian taxpayer to the tune of $300M. The need for Marinus at a cost of $3.5B is not proven, and the mainland is already investing in massive wind, solar and battery hubs of their own – at a lower cost. There is no appetite for foreign government ownership of energy infrastructure and there is little benefit to Tasmania. Most construction jobs are FIFO and few long-term Tasmanian jobs occur.

“A better health system is a far better alternative for Tasmanians, rather than subsidising private wind farms

NTAG (No Turbine Action Group, Central Highlands) says no social license is held by Epuron who want to build a 50-turbine wind farm at St Patricks Plains at the Steppes historic site near Miena.

“Epuron failed to consider environmental and social values when first looking at where a large industrial wind farm should be built. Epuron selected a site which has more than 26 Nationally Endangered flora and fauna species present. Turbines of 240m in height or 3 ½ times the height of Wrest Point Casino are planned next to the Highland Lakes Road, and they will be seen from World Heritage Areas. A wind farm of fifty turbines would be located in an area of 17 wedge-tailed eagle nests. Turbines will be seen and heard at Penstock Lagoon, an international fly-fishing icon and home to the recent World Fly Fishing Championships.”

Epuron’s EIS work was strongly criticised by the community at an ‘Information’ meeting at Miena in February where some 90% of the 100 people present voiced major concerns about the wind farm and the lack of a social license to operate by the community was made clear.

“Epuron’s EIS work for St Patricks Plains is second rate. NTAG’s legal representative has put Epuron on notice that the proposed St Patricks Plains Wind Farm development footprint cannot be lawfully assessed for environmental impact (noise, biodiversity, visual) because turbines used in the EIS may not be the ones that are built,” Mr Ridley said

“Wind farms need to be in the right location so that Tasmania is kept unique, and this requires a social license to operate from the community”.

Notes:

Epuron is a Sydney based company who seeks approval for windfarms to on-sell to investors. NTAG is a recently formed community group opposed to the construction of the St Patricks Plains Wind farm in the Highland lakes area by Epuron because it is in the wrong place. NTAG seek to keep the Highlands unique.

NTAG supports the nearby Cattle Hill Wind Farm because it is in the right place. Members were present at a rally at the Tasmanian Energy Development Conference to highlight opposition to Epuron’s St Patricks Plains Wind Farm and because no community representative was asked to speak at the Conference (even though, ironically, community consultation is said in the Draft Framework document to be at the “core” of Tasmanian Energy Development).

Editor’s note: Details of who is actually speaking at the conference are here. Attendance at the event costs $1695 + GST for the two day event.

SOLVE: Protest at Devonport Energy Development Conference 2021.

TASMANIAN GOVERNMENT: Draft Renewable Energy Coordination Framework.