COMMUNITY-based lobby group, Responsible Renewables, has come out strongly opposed to plans for a second cross-shore transmission line at Waratah Bay to connect with Gippsland’s offshore wind projects.
The group, which is a collective of community members concerned about the impact of the offshore wind rollout on the local environment and local community said on Sunday, February 16 that they have “received new information from Gippsland Skies and Marinus Link regarding expanded infrastructure plans for the Gippsland offshore wind zone”.
They have issued the following statement:
While the current onshore connection corridor at Giffard has a 2GW capacity, the zone's total planned capacity of 7GW-9GW will require additional connection points. Waratah Bay, adjacent to Wilsons Promontory National Park, is being investigated as well as the entire area from McLoughlin's Beach to Seaspray. We have been advised that VicGrid will undertake public consultation by October 2025 and make the final decision on connection points.
Laura Jennings from Responsible Renewables stated, "We are deeply concerned about proposals to establish onshore connections through Waratah Bay – an integral part of the Wilsons Promontory seascape. This directly contradicts Federal Energy Minister Chris Bowen's commitment to protect the western side of Wilsons Promontory from offshore wind turbines and associated infrastructure."
"The environmental cost to Wilsons Promontory’s pristine coastline, marine ecosystem, and local environment is simply too high. While we support renewable energy development, it cannot come at the expense of protecting our irreplaceable natural heritage. This appears to be driven by multinational developers' profit motives rather than community interests."
Jennings added, "We're now facing a scenario where responsibility will likely be shifted between developers and different levels of government. The community consultation process by both state and federal governments has been inadequate from the start, failing to properly consider the needs of both current and future generations. This rush toward renewable energy development without due environmental consideration prioritises corporate interests over long-term environmental stewardship."
Responsible Renewables will continue to advocate for environmentally conscious renewable energy development that genuinely serves community interests and protects Victoria's natural environment for future generations.
To find out more about Responsible Renewables click HERE
