Highly Debated Offshore Wind Zone Has Been Approved Off the Illawarra Coast

A new renewable energy zone has been declared in the Pacific Ocean off the NSW Coast, with offshore wind companies invited to apply for feasibility licences.

Following extensive consultation with the community, the federal government has officially declared the Illawarra offshore wind zone, 20km off the coast of Wollongong, NSW.

The zone has a maximum size of 1022km² which would see up to 200 floating wind turbines offshore between Wombarra and Kiama. This wind zone would have the potential to generate up to 2.9 gigawatts of renewable wind energy, capable of powering 1.8 million homes.

The zone marks the fourth offshore wind area declared by the federal government, while two more remain under final consideration.

According to the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, with 90% of the country’s coal-fired power stations set to close by 2035, offshore wind remains one of Australia’s most viable clean energy sources.

During the consultation period, more than 14,200 submissions were considered, which included input from First Nations people and community members, as well as government and industry members.

In response to the feedback, Federal Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Chris Bowen, announced the area would be smaller and 10km further offshore than originally proposed.

It will also avoid significant environmental areas including:

• marine parks
• a Biologically Important Area for the Little Penguin
• Shelf Rocky Reef Key Ecological Feature
• Southern Right Whale migration and reproduction area

Companies interested in developing offshore wind in the zone are invited to apply for a feasibility licence, with applications closing on the 15th of August 2024.

Why has the wind zone been so hotly debated?

The new development has been a topic of ongoing local debate amongst groups in the Illawarra region for many months. Supporters such as Friends of the Earth welcome the transition to renewable energy, while opposition groups, like No Offshore Wind Farms Illawarra, are concerned with the damage the construction could have on the ocean, sea life, and coastal views.

The government hosted multiple community consultation sessions to address concerns and answer questions about the project, including the claim that offshore wind turbines could kill up 400 whales a year. However, this was debunked last year.

Environmental justice group, Friends of the Earth, welcomed the announcement.

‘From Gippsland in Victoria to the Illawarra and Hunter in NSW, offshore wind represents a massive opportunity to take action on climate change while creating thousands of new jobs’, said Pat Simons, Friends of the Earth’s renewable energy spokesperson.

‘As we all experience the worsening impacts of climate change from severe floods, storms, and fires fuelled by burning fossil fuels, offshore wind has a critical role to play in cutting greenhouse gas emissions and providing a new source of electricity’, Simons added.

Meanwhile, opposition groups have welcomed the recent support of The Nationals and party leader, David Littleproud, at a press conference in Wollongong as the party declared it would stop the wind farms if reelected.

‘We should have a slow transition from some of our coal-fired power stations to nuclear power plants that are zero emissions and firm that up with gas and carbon capture storage, which is zero emissions as well’, Mr Littleproud said on ABC Illawarra Breakfast.

This comes despite The Nationals supporting the bill to make offshore wind zones legal three years ago.

Feature image by Department of Energy & Climate Change via Flickr | License