Developers want bridge to wind farm

THE proponents behind a controversial wind farm in Tasmania’s far North-West will build a bridge between the mainland and Robbins Island to help it construct the 200turbine project and carry electrical cables off the island.

UPC Renewables said it had revised its initial plan to build a causeway and bridge and now planned to construct a 1.2km bridge to link the wind farm to Montagu and its Jim’s Plains energy park.

“Taking into consideration additional hydrodynamic modelling, community feedback and some innovative design, we have been able find a solution that is all bridge,” the company said in its latest project update.

Bob Brown Foundation campaigner Scott Jordan said the switch from a causeway to a bridge could improve flushing conditions, but the community needed to see detailed modelling to decide that.

“It appears this company is asking what it needs to do to get a permit to build a wind farm. The community is asking, is this the place to build a wind farm at all?,” Mr Jordan said.

The company says piles 15m apart would allow water to flow freely through Robins Passage and its single-lane precast concrete bridge would not stop recreational vehicles accessing Robbins Passage from Robbins Island Rd.

UPC Renewables said it had lodged its development application for the Jim’s Plain energy park and it had been asked to give the Circular Head Council extra information before it is put on public exhibition.

“We expect to lodge the Robbins Island Development Application in the next few months,” the company said.

Its mega 170km transmission line to carry power from its wind farms to Sheffield to be fed into the main grid had also changed considerably.

“TasNetworks has developed a NW Tasmania transmission strategy to support the long-term development of renewable energy projects, as well as Project Marinus and Battery of the Nation,” the update says.

“This will result in TasNetworks developing a line from Sheffield to Hampshire which will be paid for and used by UPC.

“If this line ends up being used for Project Marinus and passes the regulatory steps required to become part of the shared network, then it would be paid for by customers in accordance with the National Electricity Rules.

“This leaves UPC to find a transmission line route from Robbins Island to Hampshire.”