Media release – Felix Ellis, Minister for Housing, Planning, and Consumer Affairs; Nick Duigan, Minister for Energy and Renewables, 5 February 2025
Major Projects to power major renewables
The Tasmanian Liberal Government has declared the Cellars Hill Wind Farm a Major Project under its landmark major project legislation, also announcing changes that will get renewable energy projects out of the ground faster and simpler.
The $1.5 billion Cellars Hill Wind Farm development will create up to 238 jobs during the two-year construction phase and a further 14 once complete.
Minister for Housing, Planning, and Consumer Affairs, Felix Ellis said developments like the Cellars Hill Wind Farm are driving forces for economic growth, job creation, and progress.
“Cellars Hill Wind Farm is large, complex and significant for the region and our state – it’s clear this is a Major Project and will now be assessed under our streamlined pathway,” Minister Ellis said.
“In our small state, big projects are a gamechanger. No one can argue with the jobs and opportunities created by our first Major Project declaration – the Bridgewater Bridge.
“Wind farms are the majority of major projects being assessed currently by the Tasmanian Planning Commission, with 4 large scale wind generation projects around the state choosing this pathway.
“That’s why we will bring a Bill to Parliament to automatically qualify large renewable energy projects for Major Projects assessment.
“Our Government wants to see large renewable energy developments get out of the ground faster and simpler.
“Planning reform like this will help future-proof our economy for years to come.”
Minister for Energy and Renewables, Nick Duigan said today’s move will secure Tasmania’s position as a renewable energy powerhouse.
“We want to see more projects getting off the ground sooner, this change will allow more large renewable energy projects like Cellars Hill to automatically become eligible for Major Project assessment, should proponents choose that path,” Minister Duigan said.
“We are absolutely committed to enabling job-creating developments like Cellars Hill, ensuring we generate the energy we need, and grow the economy.”
Director of the Cellars Hill Wind Farm project, Andrew Clark, said the project is being driven by multi-generational landowners with community in mind.
“The project is being led by multi-generational farmers and includes a proposal for a $1,000 per annum energy subsidy per household/business within Bothwell and within 12 kilometres of a turbine, paid for the life of the project,” he said.
“We thank the Tasmanian Government for making this declaration and look forward to Cellars Hill Wind Farm contributing towards the Tasmanian Renewable Energy Target of 200% renewable energy by 2040.”
Now that it has been declared a Major Project, the Cellars Hill Wind Farm proposal will be assessed by an independent expert panel, appointed by the Tasmanian Planning Commission, along with relevant statutory regulators.
Media release – Clean Energy Tasmania, 5 February 2025
Support for wind farms welcome, but still more to do
Clean Energy Tasmania welcomes the Tasmanian Government’s announcement that it will now be easier for renewable energy projects to be assessed under the major projects framework.
Clean Energy Tasmania Chair, Ian Jones, said it’s a sign the Tasmanian Government was getting serious about supporting new renewable generation.
“There are $25 billion worth of renewable energy projects proposed for Tasmania and the Government needs to do everything it can to support them,” Mr Jones said.
“Today’s announcement is a great step and we welcome it but there is still more to do.
“We need the Tasmanian and Australian Governments to streamline approval processes especially regarding the EPBC Act and we need the Tasmanian Government to ensure the transmission infrastructure is there to support more renewable generation.
“We know we need to bring online more generation to keep pace with growing energy demand, we know that there are proponents wanting to invest and develop projects and we know the Government has set itself an ambitious target of 200 per cent renewable generation by 2040, yet the last time a new wind farm was built was in 2019.
“We want renewable energy to be the Government’s top priority in 2025.”
Media release – Helen Burnet MP, Greens Planning spokesperson, 5 February 2025
Rockliff Government Undermines Proper Process – Again
The Rockliff Government has again moved to undermine proper planning processes, with their new Major Projects announcement the latest in a string of examples.
The Greens voted against the Major Projects legislation when it was before Parliament because we believe that no matter what a project is, it should be subject to a proper, robust assessment process. As such, we do not support any project being pushed into this fast-tracking pathway, nor do we support expanding this pathway further.
This approach from the Liberals is really disturbing. We’ve seen special legislation to enable developments, attempts to establish Development Assessment Panels, proposed changes to the Urban Growth Boundary, and now an effort to expand the Major Projects pathway. It’s an all-out attack on planning in Tasmania.
Our message to the government is clear – wrong way, go back. This steamrolling approach to planning is totally inappropriate and will no doubt lead to negative outcomes and unintended consequences.
Media release – Janie Finlay MP, Shadow Minister for Energy & Renewables, 3 February 2025
Liberals fail their own report card, again
Tasmania was Australia’s leader in renewable energy for 100 years, right up until last year when South Australia took over. It’s been years since a new wind farm was built and the TCCI has called our energy situation a crisis.
It should be completely unthinkable, except it shouldn’t come as a surprise when you look at this Government’s record. In fact, Jeremy Rockliff’s government has achieved exactly zero of their 2022-24 renewable energy goals:
- Framework Implementation Plan – fail.
- Establish first Renewable Energy Zone – fail.
- Final Investment Decision on Marinus Link – fail.
- Local hydrogen production – fail.
This is a government that never delivers. Big on rhetoric, hopeless on delivery.
This sort of failure isn’t just embarrassing for the government, it has serious implications for Tasmania’s economy. The Liberals’ failure to deliver has already cost Tasmania several major projects and stopped billions from entering the state.
Renewable energy is Tasmania’s superpower and holds the key to supercharging our economy for decades to come. We need to be doing everything we can to take advantage of the incredible opportunities available to us, but the Liberals have dropped the ball.
Labor is determined to get moving on the big projects that will set up our economy for decades to come, and create thousands of safe, secure, well-paid jobs.
