OFFSHORE wind energy is slowly gaining traction across South Gippsland including tentative support from a group strongly opposed to overhead power lines.
According to Energy and Resources Minister Lily D’Ambrosio Victoria’s offshore wind industry will provide jobs and career pathways for thousands of workers and boost local businesses through manufacturing and supply chain development.
Ms D’Ambrosio said the State Government was giving industry the certainty it needs to invest and start building the renewable energy Victoria needs to push down energy bills.
Chair of Better Transmission Gippsland (BTG) Kirra Bott welcomed Minister D’Ambrosio’s strong support for offshore wind energy but said it must be matched with the right transmission infrastructure.
Speaking at the 2025 New Energy Conference in Traralgon Ms Bott said the Minister is right to highlight how critical offshore wind is to Victoria’s energy future.
“South Gippsland has the potential to be the new Latrobe Valley, powering the state for generations, but it will only succeed if we get the connections right and that means building transmission underground, so it is reliable, resilient and built to last.”
Better Transmission Gippsland warned persisting with overhead transmission lines risked undermining the very opportunity the Minister was celebrating.
“It’s an extraordinary irony,” said Ms Bott.
“We’re building renewable energy to fight climate change but connecting it with infrastructure that fails in the very storms, fires and heatwaves climate change is driving.”
Ms Bott pointed to an increasing incidence of transmission tower failures.
“Overhead belongs to the past, every outage costs businesses and families.”
“No power means no profit for businesses with stalled production, lost revenue, and jobs at risk,” said Ms Bott.
“Offshore wind deserves the best connections.
“Do it once, do it right,” she said.
“We are here to make sure that this once-in-a-generation project delivers what all of us want; affordable, reliable, climate-resilient power.
Releasing the State Government’s Offshore Wind Energy Implementation Statement earlier this year Minister D’Ambrosio said the confidential Registration of Interest (ROI) auction process would be the next step towards building 2 gigawatts of offshore wind energy capacity.
“Successful proponents will be supported through a contract-for-difference and availability payment providing investment certainty and energy security,” said Ms D’Ambrosio.
Ms Bott remained sceptical.
“Gippsland is ready to deliver, the question is not if, but how.”
The first contracts for offshore wind energy are expected to be awarded in 2026.
