Amendments to the Rottnest Island Management Plan 2023-28
Supporting the Transition to Renewable Energy
RIA has proposed amendments to the Rottnest Island Management Plan 2023-2028 (RIMP) to facilitate RIA’s renewable energy targets, prepared in accordance with s19 of the Rottnest Island Authority Act 1987 (Act).
As a part of the State Government commitment to powering Western Australia with cleaner more reliable energy, a key initiative of the RIMP is to target an initial 75 per cent renewables power generation for the island. The State Government has committed $90.7 million in funding to embrace renewable energy and transform the generation, storage and transmission infrastructure on Wadjemup / Rottnest Island.
To achieve 75% renewables penetration, an additional 1% of the island’s reserve is proposed for use as a solar farm. To enable development of the site as a solar farm, an amendment to the Land Use Plan (LUP) is required to change the designation of the site from ‘Reserve’ to ‘Infrastructure & Support Services’.
Based on modelling, the new solar farm and generation system will achieve an estimated abatement of more than 4,000 tonnes of carbon emissions per year, which is equivalent to 900 cars removed from the road, which saves 1.5 million litres of diesel, reducing emissions per visitor from 4.9kg CO2 per visitor down to 1.8kg CO2 per visitor.
View the draft amendment to Rottnest Island Management Plan 2023-28
How to submit your feedback
- Email to [email protected]
- Deliver to Rottnest Island Authority offices
- Post to PO Box 693, Fremantle WA 6959
Submissions will close at 5pm, Thursday 19 November.
Frequently asked questions
The Rottnest Island Management Plan 2023-28 (RIMP) is a statutory requirement of Rottnest Island Authority and sets out the key focus areas, initiatives and strategies for the next five years in managing the island and its associated waters.
A site has been selected for a proposed new solar farm to help achieve the island’s 75% renewable energy target.
The proposed site is designated ‘Reserve’ in the Rottnest Island Land Use Plan (LUP) within the RIMP. To enable development of the site as a solar farm, an amendment to the LUP is required to change the designation of the site from ‘Reserve’ to ‘Infrastructure & Support Services’.
The proposed land use plan will change designation of the land use, reducing the total ‘Reserve’ land allocation from 85% to 84%, and increase the total ‘Infrastructure and Support Services’ land allocation from 4% to 5%.
We’re planning for a net zero future. While the initial land use requirement to achieve 75% renewable energy penetration is approximately half of the total land area, the transmission infrastructure will enable future solar capacity expansion to support the net zero carbon target by 2050.
View further information about the Renewable Energy and Electrical Infrastructure Project.
The proposed amendments to the RIMP will:
- replace pages 10 and 48 of the RIMP
The draft is available:
The RIMP outlines Rottnest Island Authority’s strategic management framework, and the consultation process provides an opportunity for visitors, businesses, island residents, the community, and other stakeholders to have their say on the future management of the island.
Responses will not be provided to individual submissions. Analysis of submissions will inform recommendations to the Minister for Tourism to affect the proposed amendments.
The consultation period will be open for two months, closing at 5pm on Thursday 19 November 2026. Following this, all feedback will be reviewed, and a recommendation will be made to the Minister for Tourism to endorse the proposed changes. The final plan is expected to be completed in November 2026.