22/09/2023
1
MC23-018911
Ms Sue Rafferty
[email protected]
Dear Ms Rafferty
Thank you for your correspondence on 25 and 28 February 2023 to the Minister for the
Environment and Water, the Hon Tanya Plibersek MP, concerning the proposed Robbins Island
Renewable Energy Park (EPBC 2017/8096) . Minister Plibersek has asked me to thank you for
your correspondence and to reply on her behalf. I regret the delay in my response.
As you are aware, the proposed Robbins Island Renewable Energy Park is being assessed under
the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act). The project was
also assessed by the Tasmanian Environment Protect Agency (EPA) under the Tasmanian
Environmental Management and Pollution Control Act 1994. The Tasmanian EPA’s assessment of
the project is now complete and can be found on the EPA website: epa.tas.gov.au/business-
industry/assessment/proposals-assessed-by-the-epa/acen-robbins-island-pty-ltd-robbins-
island-renewable-energy-park-northwest-tasmania.
The Commonwealth Environment Minister’s decision on this project under national
environmental law is currently paused, while we await further information that has been
requested from the proponent.
I appreciate your concern about the potential impacts on the Tasmanian Wedge-tailed Eagle
(Aquila audax fleayi) and the White-bellied Sea-Eagle (Haliaeetus leucogaster). Under national
environmental law, environment approvals are only issued if an assessment demonstrates that
impacts of a project on matters of national environmental significance are acceptable. This
includes impacts to nationally listed threatened species such as the Orange-Bellied Parrot and
the Tasmanian Wedge-tailed Eagle. The White-bellied Sea-Eagle is a listed marine species and
protected under the EPBC Act and is also listed as vulnerable under the Tasmanian Threatened
Species Protection Act 1995.
The Tasmanian EPA’s Environmental Assessment Report notes that both species of eagle and
their nests were identified within the proposed action area and that the project may result in
impacts to these species. The proponent proposes to manage these impacts through the
implementation of an Eagle Monitoring and Management Plan. The proponent also proposes to
manage impacts associated with acid sulphate soil through an Acid Sulphate Soil Management
Plan. These documents are also available on the Tasmanian EPA’s website, mentioned above.
I trust this information is helpful. Thank you again for bringing your concerns to the
Government’s attention.
Yours sincerely
Rachel Short
Branch Head
Environmental Assessments (Vic and Tas) and Post Approvals Branch
11 September
