Bashan Wind Farm: A Comprehensive Overview

Introduction

The Bashan Wind Farm represents a significant renewable energy development in Tasmania’s Central Highlands region. This 1200-word overview examines the key aspects of the project, from its technical specifications to environmental considerations and community engagement strategies.

Project Snapshot

Project Location and Land Use

The Bashan Wind Farm is situated in a relatively remote part of Tasmania’s Central Highlands, south of the existing Cattle Hill Wind Farm. The project area comprises approximately 9,467 hectares of private freehold land held across five separate rural holdings, with all five landowners participating in the project.

The site is divided into two distinct areas:

• Bashan North: Primarily cleared agricultural farmland
• Bashan South: Predominantly native forest and woodland managed for forestry purposes

The project area’s existing land uses include:

• Farming (grazing)
• Forestry
• Recreational hunting and fishing
• Hydroelectric power generation

Technical Infrastructure

Wind Turbine Generators

The project will utilize horizontal-axis turbines with the following components:

• Concrete foundations (hardstand approximately 60m x 80m)
• Steel tower sections bolted together
• Nacelle housing the generator with attached rotor
• Rotor hub fitted with three turbine blades and pitch system
• Electrical and communications cabling

Battery Energy Storage System (BESS)

• Anticipated capacity: 200-400MWh
• Location: Near the main substation or multiple small BESS connected to wind turbines

IdentiFlight System

• Next-generation version of the system installed at Cattle Hill Wind Farm
• Improved eagle tracking capabilities
• Up to 30 IdentiFlight stations for eagle collision avoidance

Ancillary Infrastructure

• Internal access tracks
• One main substation and two switching stations
• Underground cabling
• Operations and Maintenance Compound
• Three 130m Meteorological masts
• Temporary construction facilities

Environmental Considerations

Protected Matters Assessment

The project area contains several environmentally significant elements that require careful management:

EPBC Act Listed Ecological Communities

• Lowland Temperate Grasslands of Tasmania
• Alpine sphagnum bogs and associated ferns
• Tasmanian forests and woodlands dominated by black gum or Brookers gum

Threatened Flora Species

• Native wintercress (Barbarea australis) – Endangered
• Curtis’ Colobanth (Colobanthus curtisiae) – Vulnerable
• Clover glycine (Glycine latrobeana) – Vulnerable
• Crowded Leek-Orchid (Prasophyllum crebriflorum) – Endangered
• Liawenee Greenhood (Pterostylis pratensis) – Vulnerable

Threatened Fauna Species

• Tasmanian Wedge-Tailed Eagle (Aquila audax subsp. fleayi) – Endangered
• Tasmanian Masked Owl (Tyto novaehollandiae castanops) – Vulnerable
• Spotted-tail Quoll (Dasyurus maculatus subsp. maculatus) – Vulnerable
• White-bellied sea-eagle (Haliaeetus leucogaster) – Marine
• Ptunarra Brown Butterfly (Oreixenica ptunarra) – Endangered
• Eastern Barred Bandicoot (Perameles gunnii gunnii) – Vulnerable
• Tasmanian Devil (Sarcophilus harrisii) – Endangered
• Blue-winged parrot (Neophema chrysostoma) – Vulnerable

Potential Environmental Impacts

The primary potential impacts associated with the project include:

1. Vegetation Clearance
   • Direct impact to native vegetation through clearing and earthmoving
   • Potential loss of habitat for threatened species
2. Bird Collision Risk
   • Potential collision of threatened avifauna with wind turbines
   • Particular risk for Tasmanian Wedge-Tailed Eagle and migratory species
3. Terrestrial Fauna Impacts
   • Potential disturbance to denning sites
   • Increased roadkill risk due to construction traffic
4. Indirect Impacts
   • Changes to light, noise, and hydrology during construction
   • Potential introduction of weeds

Avoidance and Mitigation Strategies

The project incorporates several strategies to avoid and mitigate environmental impacts:

Eagle Protection Measures

• Implementation of next-generation IdentiFlight system with improved tracking capabilities
• Exclusion zones of over 1000m around identified eagle nests
• Eagle GPS tracking to inform turbine layout and exclusion zones
• Increased turbine visibility through blade coloring
• Installation of eagle flappers on transmission lines

Habitat Protection

• Avoidance of areas of most suitable eagle habitat
• Protection of Highland Poa grassland as potential Ptunarra Brown Butterfly habitat
• Micrositing of turbines to avoid sensitive ecological communities
• Progressive rehabilitation during and post-construction

Operational Controls

• Roadkill management measures including speed limits
• Minimizing vehicle movement from dusk to dawn
• Staff training to minimize environmental impacts

Community Engagement

The project team has implemented a comprehensive community engagement strategy:

Community Benefits

Community benefits and neighbor benefit arrangements are being co-developed with input from Council and the Community, in line with the ReCFIT Guideline for Community Engagement, Benefit Sharing and Local Procurement.

Regulatory Framework

The project requires assessment and approval under multiple regulatory frameworks:

Commonwealth Level

• Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act)
• Assessment as a controlled action for:
  • Listed threatened species and communities
  • Listed migratory species

State Level

• Environmental Management and Pollution Control Act 1994 (EMPCA)
• Assessment as a Level 2 Activity under Schedule 2

Local Level

• Land Use Planning and Approvals Act 1993 (LUPAA)
• Assessment under the Tasmanian Planning Scheme – Central Highlands

Project Timeline

The development of the Bashan Wind Farm follows this general timeline:

1. Planning and Approvals Phase (Current)
   • Environmental studies and assessments
   • Community consultation
   • Regulatory approvals
2. Construction Phase (36 months)
   • Site preparation and access roads
   • Foundation construction
   • Turbine installation
   • Electrical works and commissioning
3. Operational Phase (2026-2060)
   • Renewable energy generation
   • Ongoing maintenance and monitoring
   • Community benefit programs

Conclusion

The Bashan Wind Farm represents a significant renewable energy project for Tasmania’s Central Highlands region. With a generation capacity of up to 450MW, the project will contribute substantially to Tasmania’s renewable energy targets while implementing comprehensive measures to protect the local environment and engage with the community. The project builds on the successful integration of the nearby Cattle Hill Wind Farm and continues the area’s legacy of renewable energy production dating back to the early 1900s.

Source

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• FR2 Infrastructure –  Constructability advise and project and planning controls
• Staging Diagrams – Staging diagrams for possession planning

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Energy Planning

Energy Planning, We deliver breaking news, expert analysis, and actionable insights on:  Renewable Energy Integration – Solar, wind, and storage breakthroughs; Grid Modernization – Smart technologies and infrastructure updates; Climate Policy – COP28 outcomes, carbon markets, and regulatory shifts;  Emerging Tech – Hydrogen, CCUS, and AI-driven energy solutions

Our Partners: FR2 Infrastructure | We Simplify Complexity | Felipe Ramirez | Construction Methodology | Selknam | Energy Planning | Staging Diagrams

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Energy Planning

Energy Planning, We deliver breaking news, expert analysis, and actionable insights on:  Renewable Energy Integration – Solar, wind, and storage breakthroughs; Grid Modernization – Smart technologies and infrastructure updates; Climate Policy – COP28 outcomes, carbon markets, and regulatory shifts;  Emerging Tech – Hydrogen, CCUS, and AI-driven energy solutions

Our Partners: FR2 Infrastructure | We Simplify Complexity | Felipe Ramirez | Construction Methodology | Selknam | Energy Planning | Staging Diagrams