The Proponent, Cellars Hill Wind Farm Pty Ltd, proposes the construction and operation of the Cellars Hill Wind Farm (the proposed action), comprising up to 56 wind turbine generators (WTGs) with a total installed capacity of up to 350 MW. Each turbine is expected to be capable of generating approximately 6.2 MW. At this stage, the expected tip height will be up to 247 m and hub height will be up to 166 m.

A battery energy storage system (BESS) is also proposed to be developed as part of the proposed action. The BESS will have a storage and discharge capacity of up to 600 MW / 2400 MWh. 

The proposed action will connect to the existing 220 kV transmission line running through the site (‘project area’), meaning no external transmission lines will be created.

Key components of the proposed action include the development, construction, maintenance, operation and decommissioning of:

• Up to 56, approximately 6.2 MW WTGs, with a total generating capacity of 350 MW, a hub height of up to 166 m and a maximum tip height of up to 247 m above foundation level including hardstands.
• A BESS facility with an approximate capacity of 600 MW / 2400 MWh, comprising battery packs, inverters, and associated equipment.
• Substation and switchyard, and associated transmission connection works, connecting to the existing 220 kV transmission line internal to the project area.

Additional works which are expected to be required to facilitate the proposed action include:

• Electrical and communication reticulation to connect WTGs and BESS to an internal substation/s.
• Site operation and maintenance (O&M) facilities.
• Access and egress points from public roads (Highland Lakes Rd, Meadsfield Rd and Southernfield Rd/Waddamana Rd). 
• Internal operational access tracks and associated infrastructure within the project area. 
• Local and regional road upgrades may be required to accommodate oversize and overmass (OSOM) vehicles and turbine components and safe site access and egress. This may include small segments of road outside of the immediate project area, subject to further studies including a traffic impact assessment.
• Temporary car parking for construction works and for ongoing operations and maintenance activities.
• Temporary fencing for construction works and permanent fencing around the substation, BESS, O&M facility. Gates and signage at site access points. 
• Civil works required to provide cleared areas for construction buildings and works.
• Temporary and permanent meteorological masts or lidar/sonar devices for measuring wind speeds.
• Temporary quarries to supply rock for wind farm foundations and access tracks, and a temporary concrete batching plant for construction.
• Vegetation removal, offset planting and additional planting for landscape screening purposes.
• Temporary laydown areas for construction
• Other uses, facilities and buildings associated with the proposed action.

The project area comprises several private (and one Crown Land lot used for forestry) landholdings covering approximately 8,460 hectares (ha) located within the Central Highlands Council Local Government Area (LGA). The project area is located approximately 10km northwest of Bothwell, 34km east of Tarraleah, 28 km north of Hamilton and 72km from Hobart. The proposed action is located in the Central Highlands Renewable Energy Zone (T-3 REZ), as designated by both the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) and the State Government.

The area is remote, sparsely populated and there are few non involved dwellings within 5 km of the project area. The terrain is hilly and contains a mixture of grazing land, pine and eucalypt forestry plantations, and native vegetation. Nearby towns include Bothwell, approximately 10km to the south-east, Osterley, approximately 7km to the west, and Ouse, approximately 15km to the south-west.

The proposed action is unique in that it is a ‘landowner led’ development in which the major landowner is also the developer. As a local landowner and long standing community member, the Proponent is committed to engaging deeply and respectfully with the community and neighbours concerning the proposed action.

The purpose of the proposed action is to generate and supply renewable energy to the National Electricity Market (NEM). The proposed action is proposed as part of a broader vision for a ‘Highlands Renewable Energy Hub’, and will be collocated with the Weasel Solar Farm and a future Renewable Energy Business Park (subject to separate and future assessments and approvals), helping to create new opportunities for future industry and local employment in the Central Highlands based on more affordable, greener energy. This presents a unique opportunity to have regional production of green fuel and fertilisers as well as data centres, timber processing and associated facilities, that could provide quality long term jobs to revitalise Bothwell and the wider region.

To inform the EPBC referral and as part of early site investigations, the Proponent engaged Nature Advisory, a leading ecology and biodiversity consultant, to prepare an Overview Flora and Fauna Assessment (refer to Attachment 1 ‘Overview Flora and Fauna Assessment’, Section 1 – Appendix 3, page 1 – 61) and a Matters of National Environmental Significance (MNES) assessment (refer to Attachment 2 ‘MNES assessment’, Section 1 – Appendix 3, page 1 – 28).

Simultaneous with this referral, the Project has been declared as a Major Project (MP) under section 60O of the Land Use Planning and Approvals Act 1993 (Tas) (LUPA Act) by the Tasmanian Minister for Planning. 

As a declared to be a MP, an assessment criteria specific to the Project will be determined by a panel to be established in the Tasmanian Planning Commission. These assessment criteria will guide the development of an environmental impact assessment under the LUPA Act assessment process, referred to as a Major Project Impact Statement (MPIS).

For the purposes of this Project, it is requested that a ‘one-off’ bilateral agreement under section 45 of the EPBC Act be entered into between the Australian Government and the Tasmanian Government to allow the MP pathway to be coordinated with the EPBC Act processes. This will allow for the assessment criteria to be issued in accordance with both the LUPA Act and the EPBC Act, and to prepare a single MPIS which covers both processes, in-lieu of a separate EIA guideline and environmental impact statement. This will allow for a coordinated assessment, ensuring the matters required to be assessed under both the LUPA Act and the EPBC Act are considered in one process. 

Due to the early stage of overall project design, an Actual Disturbance Footprint of directly or indirectly impacted areas has not been determined. Instead, following the precautionary principle, a Potential Disturbance Footprint comprising the whole project area has instead been identified for the purposes of this referral under the EPBC Act. It should be noted that the Actual Disturbance Footprint, and subsequently direct impact areas will be a vastly smaller area than the Potential Disturbance Footprint identified, likely about 5% of the total project area. Notable is the land close to Highlands Lakes Road, which will not host turbines but rather is included in the Potential Disturbance Footprint only for internal transmission and road access purposes. The identification of this direct impact area will be subject to continued consideration and assessment of key factors such as MNES. 

While the project design is in it’s early stages, a number of assessments have been undertaken, along with consultation with landowners, both involved and non-involved to inform the design development. These assessments and consultation have resulted in revisions to the project design resulting in a smaller project area and size. 

Over the course of 2025, the Project layout will continue to be refined, noting that WTGs typically occupy a relatively small amount of land and can be micro sited to avoid and minimise specific and localised impacts as they may arise.