Ark Energy has received planning approval from the Tasmanian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (TasCAT) for its St Patricks Plains Wind Farm, planned for the state’s Central Highlands region.

The decision comes 13 months after the project was approved by Tasmania’s Central Highlands Council in July 2024, and follows an appeal to the Council’s decision brought by the No Turbine Action Group Inc. The appeal challenged the approval on the grounds of noise limits and visual impacts. Neither claim was successful, and the project was approved by TasCAT with minor changes to the original conditions.

The project has been in development since 2019 and prior to submission of the development application underwent several design iterations to avoid environmental impacts and address community input and concerns.

Damian Vermey, Head of Development, said Ark Energy was pleased with the decision and looks forward to progressing the project, which is an important one for the state.

“The St Patricks Plains Wind Farm site is in an excellent location for wind energy generation. The project will further boost Tasmania’s leadership position in Australia’s clean energy transition and attract further renewable industry jobs and investment into the state,” he said.

Donna Bolton, Ark Energy’s General Manager Development for Tasmania, thanked the local community and stakeholders for their patience and support over the extended assessment process.

“We thank our project landowners and neighbours, consultants and state agencies, and members of the wider Central Highlands community, for their patience and input throughout the project’s assessment process. We look forward to working with them over the next phase, in particular the long list of local residents and business owners who have shown their support and are excited by the opportunity to be part of this project,” Ms Bolton said.

Ark Energy now awaits the Australian Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water’s final decision on the project under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.

“We will always seek to work with the community and other local stakeholders to minimise environmental impacts, be a good neighbour and deliver meaningful benefits to the local community and wider region,” Ms Bolton said.

The St Patricks Plains Wind Farm consists of 47 wind turbines and ancillary infrastructure, with a generation capacity of up to 291 megawatts. It will be located as a complementary land use across several properties that are currently used for livestock grazing and private forestry.

This is the first planning approval in Tasmania for Ark Energy which has a portfolio of utility-scale renewable energy generation and storage projects in early development in New South Wales, Queensland and Tasmania.