Epuron Pty Ltd, St Patricks Plains Wind Farm, Central Highlands
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Notice of Intent Prepared for Epuron Projects Pty Ltd St Patricks Plains Wind Farm Client representative Donna Bolton Date 7 June 2019 Rev 02 ref: HB19146H001 NOI 31P Rev 02 Page 1 of 16 Contents 1. The name and contact details of the person lodging the application .................................................................................4 2. The name of the proposed project and its location ..............................................................................................................4 3. Background of the project proponent, including details of the proponent's experience and financial capacity to undertake the project and his, her or its contact details ...............................................................................................................4 4. A description of the proposed project including its key physical components .................................................................4 5. An outline of the proposed location of the project and a general site location map. ........................................................5 6. An outline of the stakeholder consultation process undertaken or proposed to be undertaken, including the consultation method, stakeholders consulted or to be consulted and the issues raised or to be raised........................................................7 7. A general description of the physical environment that may be affected by the project. ..................................................8 8. The key environmental, health, economic and social issues identified for the project to date .........................................8 9. The surveys and studies proposed or underway in relation to the key issues for the project ........................................ 10 10. The proposed timetable for the project. .............................................................................................................................. 10 11. For the purposes of section 27B(2)(k) of the EMPC Act, the Board has determined that a NoI is to contain the following additional details: ........................................................................................................................................................................... 11 12. For the purposes of section 27B(2)(k) of the EMPC Act, the Board has determined that a NoI is to contain the following additional details. ........................................................................................................................................................................... 11 List of figures Figure 1 - St Patricks Plains Wind Farm Locality ...................................................................................................................................... 6 List of tables Table 1: Wind turbine specifications ......................................................................................................................................................... 5 Table 2: Proposed timeframe ................................................................................................................................................................. 10 Appendices Appendix A — Titles Appendix B — Natural Values Assessment Appendix C — Protected Matters Search Results Appendix D — Wedge-tailed eagle nest search and assessment ref: HB19146H001 NOI 31P Rev 02/KL/cy Page 2 Prepared by — Katie Lawrence Date — 31 May 2019 Reviewed by — Leigh Knight Date — 3 June 2019 Authorised by — David Lenel Date — 6 June 2019 Revision History Rev Description Prepared by Reviewed by Authorised by Date No. 00 Revised from draft for approval K.Lawrence L.Knight D.Lenel 23/05/19 01 Revised for approval K.Lawrence L.Knight D.Lenel 24/05/19 02 Revised for approval K.Lawrence L.Knight D.Lenel 07/06/19 2019 pitt&sherry This document is and shall remain the property of pitt&sherry. The document may only be used for the purposes for which it was commissioned and in accordance with the Terms of Engagement for the commission. Unauthorised use of this document in any form is prohibited. ref: HB19146H001 NOI 31P Rev 02/KL/cy Page 3 1. The name and contact details of the person lodging the application Applicant contact: Donna Bolton A: Level 11, 75 Miller Street, North Sydney, NSW 2060 P: 02 8456 7400 E: [email protected] Consultant contact: David Lenel A: Level 1, 199 Macquarie Street, Hobart, TAS 7000 P: 0419 249 748 E: [email protected] 2. The name of the proposed project and its location Project title: St Patricks Plains Wind Farm Project location: St Patricks Plains, Central Highlands, Tasmania The project site will be entirely located on private land, with included PIDs and Titles listed in Appendix A. For clarity, the area of land managed by Sustainable Timber Tasmania located within the site boundary is excluded from the proposal area. 3. Background of the project proponent, including details of the proponent's experience and financial capacity to undertake the project and his, her or its contact details Proponent: Epuron Projects Pty Ltd ABN: 84 150 163 143 Address: Level 11, 75 Miller Street, North Sydney, NSW 2060 Epuron Projects Pty Ltd (Epuron), part of the Epuron Group, is a leading private Australian renewable energy company with a focus on green-field development of utility-scale wind and solar energy projects. Established in 2003, Epuron has been the pre-eminent wind farm developer in NSW and is one of the most experienced renewable energy developers in the Australian market. Four Epuron developed wind farms are in operation and a further three wind farms are in pre- construction. Epuron developed, owns and operates solar farms at Alice Springs, Ayers Rock Resort and at three remote communities in the NT and one large scale Solar Farm in QLD is in operation and one in NSW is in construction. In Tasmania, Epuron is currently proceeding through the statutory approvals process to develop a wind farm north of Stanley (Western Plains Wind Farm) and has two solar farms approved in the north of the State. 4. A description of the proposed project including its key physical components The proposed St Patricks Plains Wind Farm (the project) is located in central Tasmania, in the Central Highlands. The project is proposed to have up to 67 turbines, with each turbine’s generating capacity between 3.6 and 6.2 MW, subject to available technology at the time of turbine procurement. The maximum generating capacity will be up to 300 MW. Wind monitoring began on site in 2012 when WestWind Energy installed a 60 m monitoring mast. This mast and the associated data were acquired by Epuron in 2017. Epuron has recently received a development permit from Central Highlands Council to erect a 120 m high mast to ref: HB19146H001 NOI 31P Rev 02/KL/cy Page 4 monitor wind data at a second location on the project site. The mast is expected to be installed by July 2019. The preliminary details of the turbines and associated specifications are outlined below in Table 1. These specifications may change during the design process. Table 1: Wind turbine specifications Tower height 150 m Proposed blade length 90 m Max total height to blade tip 240 m Ground Clearance 60 m Hardstand dimensions 40 m x 120 m Generating capacity 3.6 - 6.2 MW Each turbine will connect to the substation via a network of underground cables. However, the distance between the northern and southern clusters of turbines may necessitate some overhead powerline(s). All power will be directed to the on-site Palmerston to Waddamana TasNetworks-owned powerlines via a new switchyard to be developed on site. The switchyard will have a footprint of approximately 40,000 m2 (4 ha). The electricity generated from the proposed wind farm will allow hydro generators to ramp down during windy periods. The project will also include: • A permanent Operations and Maintenance Building and storage area • A number of permanent wind monitoring masts • A temporary construction compound with site buildings (toilets, office etc.), laydown areas, car park • New tracks/roads with all-weather surfacing, 6-12 m wide, with approximately 78 km of road network required. This includes 38 km of new track and the upgrade to 40km of existing tracks. • Temporary concrete batching plants for foundation construction. Road construction material will likely be sourced from a number of local quarries. Epuron is in discussion with the owners of a potential source of material who is currently supplying the Cattle Hill Wind Farm development. Subject to material availability, other sources may be required, with preference given to quarrying opportunities within the project area. Sewage will be generated during the construction and operation phases, all of which will be contained in temporary facilities and removed from site. All putrescible and construction waste will be removed from site to appropriately licensed facilities. Subject to the results of the ecology surveys, any required vehicle washdown facilities will be installed, as appropriate, to minimise the spread of environmental weeds and pathogens. 5. An outline of the proposed location of the project and a general site location map. The proposed project is located in the Steppes area in the Central Highlands of Tasmania, which extends from St Patricks Plains in the north 10 km south east of Miena and Great Lake, to Bakers Tier in the south, around 28 km north of Bothwell. The proposed wind farm area covers approximately 10,000 ha, covering a north to south distance of 20 km from St Patricks Plains through