St Patricks Plains Wind Farm
Highlands Bushfest in Bothwell - 25- 26 November 2023
The St Patricks Plains Wind Farm information centre in Bothwell will be open during Bushfest from 10am - 2pm on Saturday and Sunday.
The centre is located at 16a Patrick St, on the corner of Patrick and William Streets (former location of the information centre for Cattle Hill Wind Farm).
The information centre is at 16a Patrick St, Bothwell.
The St Patricks Plains Wind Farm proposal involves 47 wind turbines across a number of rural properties in the Central Highlands of Tasmania. The project area is about 10 km south-east of Miena and 25 km north of Bothwell, and located within Tasmania's candidate Central Highlands renewable energy zone. It is adjacent to the main north-south transmission corridor between Hobart and Launceston, and ideally located with strong and consistent wind speeds, powerline capacity on site, and distance to nearby dwellings.
The project is proposed to connect via a new substation to the on-site Palmerston to Waddamana powerlines owned by TasNetworks, and transmit electricity both north and south depending on the network needs, allowing hydro power generators to ramp down and save water during windy periods. This will support Tasmania becoming the 'battery of the nation' due to its ability to easily store hydro power for times when it is most needed.
Key considerations for the project include impacts to neighbours and sensitive species around the site, including appropriate buffer distances from nearby eagle nests and other sensitive species. The project will also involve a community fund to support local initiatives and spread the benefits to surrounding areas.