By Nick Sinis
DOZENS of locals attended an insightful but at times heated forum last week, which was hosted by Member for Bass Jordan Crugnale regarding offshore wind energy and what it could mean for the region.
Along with Ms Crugnale, the Minister for Energy Lily D’Ambrosio MP and Michael Watson, Electrical Trades Union of Australia, Victorian Branch, were also in attendance as part of the panel.
The forum, held at The Shed at Wonthaggi State Coal Mine, gave attendees the opportunity to voice their opinion, ask questions and discuss the many different aspects of offshore wind.
Background
This follows the Federal Government’s offshore energy proposal for Commonwealth waters across the Gippsland coast, with renewable energy projects, such as wind turbines, that could stretch from Phillip Island to Wilsons Prom.
Gippsland was chosen due to its existing energy generation facilities and industrial hubs with strong connections to existing transmission networks near major export ports, and industrial hubs where the transmission grid is the strongest.
Consultation has been underway with the first submission period to end on October 7.
Following feedback, Minister Chris Bowen will consider the submissions as to whether the proposed area is suitable for offshore energy developments.
If the Minister declares the area, feasibility licences will be developed, and developers will be allowed to investigate an area and begin planning their project.
The State Government had provided funding for three offshore wind projects from Star of the South, Macquarie Group and Flotation Energy.
The Star of the South received $19.5 million to support pre-construction development activities for an offshore wind farm off the Gippsland coast.
Macquarie Group’s funding of $16.1 million will facilitate initial development stages of a 1GW offshore wind farm off Bass Coast.
While Flotation Energy received $2.3 million for scoping studies and surveys for a 1.5GW offshore wind farm off the coast of Gippsland.
The funding will help each company conduct studies to determine the exact location of each project.
Forum
Minister for Energy Lily D’Ambrosio MP began the discussion, highlighting what the state government has been undertaking while boasting that thousands of jobs could be created if the projects go ahead.
“There will be plenty of opportunity for everyone to have input,” she said.
“We can all be concerned around a whole range of issues, but at the same time, understand this is an opportunity for us to shape and extract the benefits.
“From jobs, training, skills, apprenticeships and supply chains and what that means for local economies for this part of the state.”
Michael Watson then discussed the transition from coal to renewable energy, also claiming that wind turbines presented a ‘jobs bonanza’ just in the construction phrase.
“There are a lot of people looking down the pipeline; it was their dad’s job, their granddad’s job, it supported their local football clubs and takeaway shops and now they’re closing,” he said.
“That is scary for people.
“But we will capture every single job we can in Victoria, the union movement has been strong on this, and find long term stable jobs.”
Mr Watson highlighted that while renewable energy will be used for consumers, it could be used to power manufacturing.
Community debate
Attendees wasted no time in questioning the panel on a range of matters.
One audience member from Phillip Island queried the Minister on the potential impact to migratory birds, stating that the government had been advised that space was needed between wind turbines for flight paths.
The attendee claimed she had been told by highly ‘reputable and credible’ sources that the government wouldn’t implement this.
However, Minister D’Ambrosio was quick to refute the claim and vehemently denied there was any truth behind it.
“No, absolutely not, you can use my words,” Ms D’Ambrosio said.
“There’s no reason why this government would make such a statement or decision in that regard when there’s a whole process.
“They (projects) still have to go through all the hoops and jumps to demonstrate they have taken into account a whole range of environmental matters.”
Ms Crugnale added that Star of the South was investigating which birds are identified in the proposed sites, and their migration patterns and flight heights.
“There have been a lot of international studies done into this,” she said.
“Once we know the migration pattern of birds, we can then design a layout to minimise any potential impacts.”
Another attendee, who was quite scathing in his comments, raised the issue that each state was having a different approach to renewable energy.
“Each government has its own approach but that’s not what we should be doing here,” they said.
The gentlemen said the claim that thousands of jobs will be created from offshore wind and renewable energy was a “dream” and nothing but “empty words”.
From his perspective, he believed that much of the components and parts would be made overseas, and simply just transported in.
He also raised concern that the turbines could only run in the right conditions.
“If the wind is too strong or too low, they can’t run,” he said.
As the debate continued, many arguments from both sides of the fence were presented.
Some asked how visible the turbines would be from the coastline, which the Minister highlighted couldn’t be exactly determined yet until the projects moved forward.
Others queried how long the turbines would last and what would happen to them after their expiry, as well as that the government should be trying to engage all age groups.
One gentleman, who stated he works in the wind turbine industry, added that many of the parts for turbines are recyclable and that they simply wouldn’t be abandoned once they had reached their life span.
Your say
There is still time to provide feedback, which closes this Friday, October 7, on the Federal Government’s proposal at consult.industry.gov.au/oei-gippsland