Ark Energy has secured approval to develop its St Patricks Plains wind farm in Tasmania, after the project sat in the EPBC Act queue since August 2019. This clears a major hurdle for the 47-turbine project that has faced legal challenges, ownership changes, and multiple federal and state assessments.
St Patricks Plains sat largely idle in the EPBC Act queue after being deemed a controlled action, and it was only until May 2025 that it gained any traction.
In the near-six years before that point, the project changed hands, with Ark Energy acquiring former owner Epuron.
St Patricks Plains was also at the mercy of a legal battle with No Turbine Action Group, which contested that the height (231m) and number of turbines (47) would unreasonably impact neighbouring properties and that the project didn’t comply with noise regulations.
The group’s appeal against Central Highlands Council’s planning approval was unsuccessful on both grounds in August 2025, and the St Patricks Plains project was approved by the Tasmanian Civil and Administrative Tribunal with minor changes to original conditions set out by Tasmania’s Environment Protection Authority.
After the deadline was extended five times between May 2025 and October 2025, St Patricks Plains was approved by the Federal Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) under the EPBC Act just before Christmas.
“With the project now approved by Central Highlands Council, the EPA Tasmania and DCCEEW, surveys have commenced to finalise the location of infrastructure and further minimise potential impacts,” Ark Energy said in its regular newsletter.
“Over the coming months, consultants and contractors will be on-site to conduct further surveys and tests to ensure the ground conditions, including any artefacts, species and habitat, are known.”
Over the next 9–12 months, Ark said it will be focused on grid-connection studies, secondary approvals including the preparation of the final design report, and planning equipment delivery to site.
The company is currently accepting expressions of interest via email from suppliers, businesses and property owners to be involved in the project, with construction set to commence in the first quarter of 2027.
