Wind Farm Proposal
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Photo: Cattle Hill Wind Farm
Overview
Local landowners, including multigenerational farming families, are working in partnership with Alternate Path to develop Cellars Hill Wind Farm.
Together, the partnership brings two decades of experience in renewable energy development, including the successful Cattle Hill Wind Farm, located on the eastern shore of Lake Echo.
As established local families, the landowners are committed to sensitively considering the environmental and cultural values of the area, ensuring the local community benefits from the project and their ongoing stewardship of the land. This includes a $1,000 per annum energy subsidy per household/business for Bothwell and surrounding residents, paid for the life of the project.
The overall vision is to use the renewable electricity generated on-site to support sustainable businesses and industries in the local area, through a ‘Behind the Meter’ connection to generate real and lasting social and economic benefits for Bothwell, surrounding communities and the state of Tasmania.
Will I be able to see or hear the wind farm from Bothwell and other local towns?
The closest turbines within the Cellars Hill Wind Farm will be located at least 10 kilometres from Bothwell, 7 kilometres from Osterley and 15 kilometres from Ouse.
These distances are comparably further than most Tasmanian wind farms.
At this distance, there will be minimal visual impact on Bothwell and other local towns and many of the turbines will be hidden by natural undulations in the land.
Whilst there will be some turbines visible from various vantage points, it will be visually recessive and will not dominate the landscape from these distances.
A landscape and visual impact assessment will be prepared to inform the planning and design of the project and mitigation measures such as landscaping would be implemented if required.
Site Photography
The proposed development area is located on Cellars Hill, approximately 10 kilometres to the north of Bothwell on Highlands Lakes Road.
Location suitability
The project is suitably located within the Central Highlands Renewable Energy Zone (REZ) and benefits from being adjacent to existing 220 kV transmission line infrastructure.
This means that there is no need to build new transmission lines, minimising impacts on the local landscape. In addition, the wind farm is sited in an area that is remote and sparsely settled, and more than 10km from the nearest town of Bothwell, reducing impacts on the local community.
Further, the site has already been disturbed through grazing and forestry, and areas of remaining biodiversity value will be protected.
The closest turbines within the Cellars Hill Wind Farm will be located at least 10 kilometres from Bothwell, 7 kilometres from Osterley and 15 kilometres from Ouse. These distances are comparably further than most Tasmanian wind farms.
At this distance, there will be minimal visual impact on Bothwell and other local towns and many of the turbines will be hidden by natural undulations in the land. Whilst there will be some turbines visible from various vantage points, it will be visually recessive and will not dominate the landscape from these distances.
Turbine area
The turbine area for the project has been developed in response to engagement with the local community and landowners and ecological and engineering assessments.
The total site area of the wind farm is approximately 8,460 hectares. Of that, approximately 165 hectares will comprise the wind turbines and other infrastructure, with the remainder left undisturbed.
The turbine area represents the land in which the 56 turbines will be located within, subject to further assessments and detailed design.
Other infrastructure, including access tracks and laydown areas, internal transmission lines and the substation may be located outside of the turbine area but within the site.
How will views of the wind turbines be minimised for neighbouring properties?
While most of the surrounding area is quite undulating, the areas selected for the wind farm turbines are relatively distant from surrounding viewpoints.
There may be some visual exposure to neighbouring properties, although given the nature of the site, the distance from local towns and very few residences in close vicinity, it is a highly suitable location.
Following environmental studies and early neighbour and community engagement, the quantity of turbines have been reduced and shifted further from Bothwell.
The project has sought to reduce visual impacts by early identification and exclusion of areas that pose the greatest visual prominence and cannot be screened by existing woodland vegetation.
A full landscape and visual impact assessment will be prepared as part of the Major Project Impact Statement and will detail the landscape values of the area and make recommendations to further minimise these impacts.
Cellars Hill Wind Farm receives Major Project status
Tasmanian Minister for Housing, Planning and Consumer Affairs, Hon Felix Ellis MP, has declared the Cellars Hill Wind Farm project a Major Project for its scale as well as contribution to the region’s economy, environment or social fabric.
The Major Project process is facilitated via division 2A of the Land Use Planning and Approvals Act 1993. The Tasmanian Planning Commission acts on behalf of the Minister for Planning as the Planning Authority for the Major Project process.
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. The Tasmanian Planning Commission will prepare assessment criteria for the project in consultation with the community and regulators.
A Major Project Impact Statement (MPIS) will be prepared to provide a comprehensive assessment of the impacts of the project. In addition, Cellars Hill Wind Farm has been referred to the Commonwealth Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) due to its potential to impact on Matters of National Environmental Significance (MNES), notably flora and fauna impacts.
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Major Project
Proposal (completed)
Feasibility and technical studies were conducted to determine the suitability of the project as Major Project Proposal.
The proponent engaged in pre-application discussions with key stakeholders, the local council and the community to gain insights that guided the overall concept and design of Cellars Hill Wind Farm.
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Major Project
Impact Statement
Now declared as a Major Project, the Tasmanian Planning Commission will establish an independent Development Assessment Panel.
The Panel will prepare assessment criteria, including EPBC Act requirements, in consultation with the community and regulators. A Major Project Impact Statement (MPIS) will be prepared in response to these assessment criteria. The MPIS will be provided to the Panel and participating regulators for initial assessment.
The proponent will begin preparations to submit the MPIS with detailed plans, environmental impact assessments, and any other required documentation.
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Assessment
The Development Assessment Panel will assess the MPIS against the requirements of the Tasmanian Planning Scheme, along with environmental impacts, infrastructure adequacy, and community benefits or concerns.
During this period, the application is publicly advertised whereby community members can provide submissions and a public hearing is held.
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Decision
The Development Assessment Panel will determine whether a permit will be granted and a final assessment report will be issued.
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Construction
Subject to necessary approvals in late 2026, construction of the wind farm could begin in 2027 and become operational in 2029/30.
Why was this project declared a Major Project?
The Minister determined that the Project was eligible because:
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It will significantly increase the generation of renewable electricity, contributing up to 1140Gw hours per annum towards the Tasmanian Renewable Energy Target of 200% renewable energy by 2040, supporting communities and industry in the Central Highlands and Tasmania as a whole.
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The project has a planned capital investment in excess of $1 billion, while delivering major economic, environmental and social benefits, generating employment, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and stimulating further investment in the region.
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The project will create approximately 238 construction jobs, and a further 14 operational positions, which will increase consumer spending within the region, benefiting local businesses.
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Opportunities will arise for industries involved in the renewable energy supply chain, and through attracting industries such as timber processing, green fertiliser, green fuels for transport, and even data centres that require a reliable, low-cost renewable energy source.
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It aligns with the regional profile, sustainable land use strategy and policy directions set out in the Southern Tasmania Regional Land Use Strategy that support renewable energy infrastructure.
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The size of the project area (8,460 hectares) and complexity of the project requires a co-ordinated assessment of the project’s impacts upon agricultural and forestry lands, and 27 native vegetation communities within the site, along with broader consideration of environmental, health, economic, social and Aboriginal cultural heritage effects of the project.
Is there enough wind to generate sufficient electricity?
Yes. According to the Department of State Growth, Tasmanian wind farms produce more energy than most areas on mainland Australia due to their ability to capture the prevailing westerly winds from the reliable ‘roaring forties.’
Wind monitoring and technical assessment have and will continue to be undertaken to support the siting of the turbines in ideal locations from a generation, environmental and amenity perspective.