VICGRID, the State Government authority which is coordinating the planning and development of Victoria’s transition to renewable energy has failed to rule out a second transmission crossing on the Gippsland coast.
Following a community drop-in session at Sandy Point on Saturday, February 15, at which approved feasibility licence holder, Gippsland Skies, revealed plans to scope out connection to two cross-shore corridors, the Sentinel-Times asked VicGrid to comment.
- Question: At a community drop-in session at Sandy Point on Saturday, February 15, a spokesperson for Gippsland Skies said VicGrid had opened up the prospect of a second cross-shore transmission corridor at Waratah Bay. Are you considering a second transmission corridor to serve the likes of Gippsland Skies’ 2.5 GW project and Southerly Ten’s 2.2 GW Kut-Wut Brataualung wind farm project, located side-by-side in Declared Area OEI-01-2022 part 3, south of Waratah Bay and Wilsons Promontory?
- Response from VicGrid CEO Alistair Parker: “VicGrid has made it clear to Gippsland Skies and to all offshore wind proponents that those wishing to connect to the first stage of the offshore wind transmission need to do so at the shared connection point near Giffard. No decisions have been made on further transmission requirements. VicGrid is solely responsible for planning offshore wind transmission infrastructure. The Victorian Government has also made it clear that offshore wind farms will be required to connect underground to the VicGrid connection points.”
In March 2024, VicGrid confirmed a study area for the cross-shore transmission corridor needed to achieve at least 2GW of offshore wind energy from the waters off Gippsland by 2032.
They said the study area, located between Giffard West and Seaspray east of Yarram, would start approximately 6km from the coast near Giffard and extend northwest past Stradbroke West to Willung, across to Flynns Creek to the Loy Yang Power Station.
According to the ‘Gippsland offshore wind transmission - Approach to refining the transmission location’ document (December 2024), VicGrid has already decided to take the Giffard West connector overhead to Loy Yang: “The new transmission in Gippsland is an overhead transmission line from a connection hub near Giffard to a grid connection point at the Loy Yang Power Station.”
Where the cross-shore transmission corridors will be located as VicGrid moves to plan for up to 7GW more power from wind farms off the Gippsland coast (total 9GW) is yet to be decided.
But Gippsland Skies has made it clear it is looking at coming ashore at Waratah Bay as one of two options.
Gippsland Skies says this on its website:
“At this early stage, project approvals will include consideration of two possible marine cable routes, a primary Eastern Cable Corridor and an alternative Northern Cable Corridor:
* The proposed Eastern Cable Corridor extends from our proposed Project’s Feasibility Licence Area (Declared Area OEI-01-2022 part 3, south of Waratah Bay and Wilsons Promontory) up to VicGrid’s proposed initial connection point for 2GW of offshore wind at Giffard.
* The proposed Northern Cable Corridor extends from our proposed Project’s Feasibility Licence Area up to Waratah Bay, although it should be noted that currently no VicGrid nominated connection point for offshore wind has been identified in this area.”
Deeply concerned
Locally based community lobby group, Responsible Renewables, has expressed its “deep concern” about a new transmission corridor at Waratah Bay, as follows:
“Responsible Renewables has received new information from Gippsland Skies and Marinus Link regarding expanded infrastructure plans for the Gippsland offshore wind zone. While the current onshore connection corridor at Giffard has a 2GW capacity, the zone's total planned capacity of 7-9GW 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 said the environmental cost to Wilsons Promontory’s pristine coastline, marine ecosystem, and local environment is simply too high.
"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,” said Ms Jennings.
While VicGrid says it is focussing its attention on the first stage of its offshore connection, 2GW by 2032, at Giffard West, it has failed to rule out further cross-shore connections to service the future offshore wind turbine developments needed to get Victoria to its target of 9GW from the Gippsland coastal area.
But one thing is clear, VicGrid has already decided that onshore transmission will be overhead, and likely at a capacity of 500 kV.
“We decided a 500 kV transmission line is the most suitable solution for this project,” they said about the initial transmission project at Giffard West.
Gippsland Skies has one more community consultation drop-in session in this round at Fish Creek this Thursday::
- Fish Creek Thursday 20 February 4pm - 6pm Fish Creek Memorial Hall
There after will be an opportunity for locals to meet and engage with all 12 offshore wind developers behind Gippsland’s proposed projects at the following community sessions:
- Port Albert - Wednesday 12 March 2025, 4:00pm – 6:00pm, Port Albert Mechanics Institute
- Golden Beach - Thursday 13 March 2025, 4:00pm – 6:00pm, Golden Beach Community Centre
- Sale - Saturday 22 March 2025, 10:00am – 2:00pm, Nakunbalook, Sale Botanic Gardens
- Leongatha - Thursday 27 March 2025, 4:00pm – 6:00pm, Leongatha Memorial Hall.
