Musselroe Wind Farm

Musselroe Wind Farm

Location

Lying south of the 40th parallel in the path of prevailing westerly winds, Tasmania has excellent resources for the generation of wind power. The Musselroe Wind Farm site is 100 kilometres north-east of Launceston and 20 kilometres north of Gladstone. It is an agricultural property owned by Hydro Tasmania.

Project scope

The Musselroe Wind Farm will have 56 wind turbines, with a generating capacity of 168 MW. The project includes the construction of a transmission line to connect the wind farm to the electricity grid at Derby. Wind has been monitored at the Musselroe site since the early 1980s. Data gathered suggests that the area’s wind resource is world class.

Environmental setting

The Musselroe Wind Farm is located in an area that has significant biodiversity values. During the assessment and approvals phase of the project, intensive surveys and studies were conducted to assess potential impacts on native animals and plants, and on resident and migratory birds that use the site. This information was used to establish zones that have been excluded from development, and as input into the final layout and location of roads, cable trenches and turbine foundations.

The project received planning approval from Dorset Council, with conditions from the Tasmanian environment protection agency. The project also received approval from the Commonwealth Government under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (the EPBC Act).

What about impacts on bird life?

Investigations during the development phase of the project showed that a wide array of birds visit parts of the wind farm site. In particular, the north-western part of the property - which contains coastal sand dunes and shallow lagoons - is an area favoured by migratory wading birds that spend some months of every year in the area. The areas directly used by these birds are excluded from the development footprint, and flight paths of birds into and out of these areas have been identified through intensive monitoring.  Wind turbines in nearby areas will be located to minimise likely impacts on birds. During operation of the wind farm a monitoring program will be undertaken that continues to look at bird use of the area.

Aboriginal cultural heritage

The wind farm is being developed on land (known as tebrikuna to the pairrebeener clanspeople, who are the traditional owners) that is extremely important to many members of the present day Aboriginal community. It is important for spiritual reasons, being the land of the ancestors to which today's Tasmanian Aboriginal people belong. It is also important because of the significant historical events that have occurred there, and the strong historical connections that have continued into the present. The history and abundant cultural resources make it an important place for community access and cultural education.

Detailed and intensive surface and sub-surface surveys have been undertaken with Aboriginal Heritage Officers during the investigation and planning stages of the project. Where Aboriginal artefacts have been discovered, the footprint of the roads and hardstand areas have been adjusted to avoid these sites. The project team continues to consult with the Aboriginal community as construction proceeds, and all construction team members attend a Cultural Awareness training session presented by members of the Aboriginal community as part of their induction to the wind farm site.

Community benefits

Short to medium term jobs will be created by the 18-month long construction phase, with positive flow-on to the local economy. Once operational, maintenance staff will be required for the life of the Musselroe Wind Farm. The Musselroe Wind Farm will meet the electricity needs of up to 50,000 homes, equivalent to the residential power needs of the people of Burnie and Devonport. It will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by around 450,000 tonnes each year.

Public access

Existing public access to Little Musselroe Bay camping area will be maintained during construction. There will be brief road closures (less than a day) when large cranes and wind turbine sections are transported through the site. There is no public access to the wind farm site during construction for safety reasons. There will be community open days in late 2012 where members of the public will be able to see turbine components up close, and these will be advertised through local media and this website. 

Contact details

For employment enquiries, contact:
Civil works: Hazell Bros (03) 6277 7807
Electrical and trenching works: Consolidated Power Projects  (08) 8291 7800

For all other queries please contact the project team:

p | 1300 360 441
e | contactus@hydro.com.au