‘Rule out’ South Gippsland for offshore turbines, says shire

THE South Gippsland Shire Council has welcomed news the Federal Government has not officially declared marine areas, within 5km of the South Gippsland coast, as suitable for offshore wind turbines.

But the Council remains concerned zones near Wilsons Promontory and along the South Gippsland and Bass Coast might still be included in the future.

And they’ve called on the government to rule out those zones close to the Prom and coastal areas west of the Prom.

When the Federal Minister for Climate Change and Energy came to Seaspray last week to formally declare three marine zones, off the coast between Lakes Entrance and the southern tip of the Prom, as Australia’s first offshore wind zone, he left the door ajar to expanding the footprint further west.

Minister Bowen said the changes to the list of proposed development zones, including the deletion of the one closest to the coast, from the Prom to the Penguins Beach on Phillip Island, were made because of concerns brought up during the consultation phase.

“The area west of Wilsons Promontory did not receive the same level of community support as the proposal east and also there's environmental concerns with the famous Orange-bellied parrot which need to be worked through,” Minister Bowen said.

So, that zone, within 5km of the coast from Cape Woolamai to Waratah Bay, and three others to the west of the Prom, have been left out or cut short for now.

In a statement this week, the South Gippsland Council said it was pleased that the proposed offshore wind zone near Wilsons Promontory National Park has been reduced in size, in light of Council and community concerns.

However, they said additional information and consultation will continue to be sought from the State and Federal Government on matters such as transmission routes, future environmental impacts and how any construction demands, such as increased pressure on our already limited housing stock and community infrastructure could be addressed.

They said the offshore wind zone near Wilsons Promontory was originally earmarked to be much closer to the shoreline, and also spanned west towards Inverloch.

“Council and many South Gippsland residents expressed strong concerns about the proposed placement, particularly in relation to visual amenity and environmental sensitivities. The updated zoning indicates that some of these reservations were acknowledged by the Federal Government,” the shire said in a media statement.

“Wilsons Promontory, or the Prom as it is affectionately known to Victorians, is a national treasure that attracts over 500,000 visitors annually and boasts one of the richest marine ecosystems off the coast of Australia – rivalling that of the Great Barrier Reef.

“Inclusion of this area in the offshore wind zone would cause many issues and South Gippsland Shire Council is seeking assurance from the Minister for Climate Change and Energy, the Hon Chris Bowen MP, that this area will be ruled out, and not revisited in the future as a recent statement by the Minister appeared to indicate.

“South Gippsland Shire Council looks forward to meaningful conversation and engagement by the Federal Government now that Bass Strait has been officially named as Australia’s first offshore wind zone.”

Cr Nathan Hersey, Mayor South Gippsland Shire Council, said government needed to improve its engagement with the local community.

“South Gippsland Shire Council made a submission to the Federal Government in October, outlining numerous concerns to do with the proposed wind zones and, although it is positive to see that some concerns have been addressed, we would like to see a greater level of clear information and engagement with our Council and community moving forward,” Cr Hersey said.