Note: Class of Assessment is not applicable under the Major Project
process.
Status: Final Assessment Criteria and EPA Board Guidance Issued,
Awaiting Major Project Impact Statement
The Proposal
This project has been declared a major project under the Land Use Planning and Approvals Act 1993, resulting in the Environment Protection Authority becoming one of several 'relevant regulators' for the project. The project proposal involves the construction and operation of a large-scale wind energy project in the west coast region, comprising up to 500 wind turbine generators (WTGs) with a projected generating capacity of approximately 3,000 megawatts and ancillary infrastructure including a network of access roads, electrical infrastructure, and operations facilities.
The project proposal and associated documentation can be viewed at: Whaleback Ridge Renewable Energy - assessment criteria – Tasmanian Planning Commission Website.
The Tasmanian Planning Commission oversees the assessment process and has appointed a Development Assessment Panel to assess and determine the project as a whole. However, the EPA Board is required by section 60ZC of LUPAA to undertake an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) of the project in accordance with the EIA principles set out in section 74 of the Environmental Management and Pollution Control Act 1994 (EMPCA) as modified by section 60ZC(9) of LUPAA.
Assessment Requirement Notice Issued by the EPA Director
On 15 April 2024, the EPA Director issued an Assessment Requirement Notice on behalf the EPA Board, becoming a 'participating regulator' for the proposal.
Whaleback Ridge Renewable Energy Major Project - Assessment Requirement Notice (PDF 446Kb)
Assessment Criteria Issued by the Development Assessment Panel
The Development Assessment Panel published Draft Assessment Criteria on 29 June 2024, which were publicly exhibited until 15 July 2024.
On 15 July 2024, the EPA submitted a Representation in relation to the Draft Assessment Criteria under section 60ZL(2) of LUPAA.
Whaleback Ridge Renewable Energy Major Project - EPA Representation (PDF 155Kb)
The Development Assessment Panel then determined the Final Assessment Criteria in accordance with section 60ZM of LUPAA on 21 August 2024.
The Assessment Criteria can be viewed at: Whaleback Ridge Renewable Energy - assessment criteria – Tasmanian Planning Commission Website
Guidance Issued by the EPA Board
On 5 August 2024, the EPA Board provided its guidance to the Development Assessment Panel in accordance with sections 60ZC(6) and (7) of LUPAA, taken to be the guidance that the EPA Board has provided to Westcoast Renewable Energy Pty Ltd for the purposes of section 74(4) of EMPCA. The EPA Board's Guidance indicates what information the EPA Board requires Westcoast Renewable Energy Pty Ltd to provide in the Major Project Impact Statement in order for the EPA Board to properly undertake the EIA of the proposal.
Whaleback Ridge Renewable Energy Major Project - EPA Boards Guidance (PDF 368Kb)