Ocean windfarm zone declared during Seaspray press conference

[Story originally published Friday 23 December]

ALL three levels of government, backed by the local community and industry, were Seaspray on Monday 19 December, to declare Bass Strait off Gippsland as Australia’s first offshore wind zone.

Federal Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Chris Bowen, was joined by his colleague the Minister for Industry and Science, Ed Husic at a press conference outside Seaspray Surf Life Saving Club on Monday morning.

Victorian Minister for Energy and Resources, Lily D’Ambrosio, and Wellington Shire Council Mayor Ian Bye were also present, as the federal government declared Bass Strait off Gippsland as an offshore wind zone, ironically as noisy wind drowned out their words.
The federal government also awarded Major Project Status to the Star of the South Offshore Windfarm Project off the Gippsland coast.

The declared area in Gippsland covers about 15,000 square kilometres offshore, and runs from Lakes Entrance to south of Wilsons Promontory. It no longer includes areas east of Wilsons Promontory after pushback from the community.

The new area was developed after a consultation process began in August, taking into account views expressed by of industries including fishing, offshore oil and gas, other marine users, state and local government representatives, First Nations people and local communities.

The windy Bass Strait off Gippsland, and the strong grid across Gippsland and the Latrobe Valley, means this area has the potential to support more than 10 gigawatts (GW) of year-round wind energy generation, the policy says.

Mr Bowen said Gippsland’s declaration was a crucial step towards affordable, reliable and secure energy and new economic opportunities for Australia.

“The grid is strong, the skills are here, and the opportunities are enormous,” he said.
“Australia has huge potential in offshore wind, and today the Albanese government is giving this industry a green light. This formal declaration and the Major Project Status for Star of the South will help us catch up.”

Mr Husic said the start of a domestic offshore wind industry would create tremendous opportunity for local industry and job creation.

“There are two great things that come out of projects like this. They generate a lot of energy, and they generate a lot of jobs,” he said.

“Projects like this are big regional job boosters.

“They’re a shot in the arm for local industry, and they also ensure that regional economies get a slice of that action.”

The government said offshore wind projects off Gippsland could support more than 3000 jobs over the next 15 years during their development, and construction phases.

It is estimated an additional 3000 ongoing operational jobs will be created as the project gets up and running.

Cr Bye welcomed the declaration and the project’s new Major Project Status.

“Number one in our council plan is renewable energy,” Cr Bye said.

“So council focused on that when we released our last council plan, so it’s important to us and the community.

“Now the hard work starts. We’ve got to work with the federal and state governments for the rezoning of land, more childcare centres, and the infrastructure we need to actually go with the jobs that will be created.”

Star of the South chief executive, Charles Rattray, said the declaration puts Gippsland on course to become the home of Australia’s offshore wind industry.

“With strong winds, existing grid infrastructure and a skilled workforce, Gippsland is ideally positioned to capitalise on the jobs and investment offshore wind will bring to the region,” he said.

Mr Bowen said Star of the South was expected to have a “minimum” shelf life of at least 30 years.

“Thirty years is the best estimate,” he said.

“But of course, new technology comes along and it can be renewed and refurbished, 30 years would be the absolute minimum.”

Mr Bowen said it would be up to the proponents of the project to work through any possible replacement or renewal after 30 years.

“But yes, we will be asking what their plans are,” he said.

Mr Rattray said a “big part” of offshore wind was “thinking through the decommissioning or end of life for the project”.

“There are two options. One is a decommissioning program where you remove turbines,” he said.

“The second option is a repowering option where you upgrade the turbines in place that are not fatigued or damaged, and utilise for a second life.”

Addressing the housing shortage throughout Gippsland, Mr Rattray said it was a problem they would have to consider when the time came to support accommodation for workers building the project.

The Star of the South project is expected to power-up for the first time by 2029-2030.

Ms D’Ambrosio said that offshore wind was key to achieving the state government’s 95 per cent renewable energy target by 2035 and to slash emissions and energy bills.

“Our nation first offshore wind targets set Victoria’s ambition to harness the world class offshore wind resources off our coast lines – today is another milestone towards powering millions of homes and businesses with that clean energy,” she said.

As part of the state government’s Offshore Wind Targets, Victoria is aiming to hit 2 GW of offshore generation by 2032, 4 GW of offshore wind capacity by 2035 and 9 GW by 2040.

Proponents say Victoria has some of the world’s best offshore wind resources, with coast lines having full potential to support 13 GW of capacity by 2050.

Wendy Farmer, community campaigner for environment organisation Friends of the Earth, said the development of the offshore wind sector in Gippsland would a game changer for the state’s efforts to tackle climate change, and would create thousands of new job opportunities.

“The federal government’s decision to declare Gippsland the first designated zone for offshore wind is a huge vote of confidence for the future of renewable energy in the region, creating jobs and many other benefits,” she said.

Member for Gippsland South, Danny O’Brien, responded to the announcement the following day (Tuesday December 20).

“I’ve always been supportive in principle of the offshore wind farm for Gippsland, especially Star of the South. However I want to ensure that the benefits flow to Gippsland, not just the negative impacts such as new transmission lines,” Mr O’Brien told the Gippsland Times.

“I am alarmed that the state government is favouring the Port of Hastings as a construction hub rather than Barry Beach. This would see much of the activity and jobs bypass Gippsland, and that would not be acceptable.

“The proposed wind farms could help us transition as the oil and gas reserves in Bass Strait wind down, but we don’t want to be left without any of the benefits.”

Star of the South expects to use multiple ports during construction, with one port as a long-term operations base.

Mr Rattray said they were looking at a range of ports that may be suitable to support construction and operations activities, including commercial ports in Gippsland.

“We’re talking with ports in Gippsland and further afield about supporting Star of the South’s construction and operations. We’ll also keep working with government to understand their plans for the Port of Hastings,” he said.

“We want to invest in Gippsland’s future and will continue working with local ports and the community so the region benefits.”

Factors the company needs to consider when looking at ports include proximity to the wind farm; water depths and tides to accommodate construction and operations vessels; quay side facilities; available space for manufacturing and laydown; and local job and investment opportunities.