Community invited to help shape Australia’s first offshore wind project

Thursday, 9 April 2020

 

Australia’s first offshore wind project is gathering pace, with the Star of the South unveiling new information and inviting people to help shape this game-changing project.

Despite the current challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Star of the South is getting on with the detailed planning and investigations needed to deliver an offshore wind farm off the coast of Gippsland.

New details show the three potential transmission corridors the project is assessing, which would transport the electricity generated out at sea to land and into the grid to power homes.

The Star of the South would provide a reliable and consistent source of energy, powering up to 1.2 million homes and supplying around 18 percent of Victoria’s electricity needs. The three possible transmission corridors will be assessed against a range of measures including engineering and technical studies, advice from specialists and feedback from landholders and local communities.

Each of the options identified would connect into the grid in the Latrobe Valley and would involve underground cables and substations.

The Star of the South is expected to select a transmission corridor to continue progressing by the end of the year.

People who live and work in the area, or those with a broader interest in the project, can share their feedback on the project from Tuesday 14 April to Sunday 17 May 2020. Due to COVID-19, face-to-face community information sessions planned in April have been cancelled.

The community is encouraged to provide feedback online or get in touch with the project team to request a hard copy information pack or setup a teleconference meeting.

The project has also taken the next step by referring the Star of the South to the Victorian Minister for Planning to consider an Environment Effects Statement and to the Federal Minister for Environment under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act.

These referrals will help government decide the best assessment and approvals pathways, including the formal opportunities for community and stakeholder consultation and feedback.

Developing offshore wind in Gippsland would help to create local job opportunities, transition to new forms of power generation and secure the state’s energy supply.

The project started collecting scientific data out at sea late last year, with wind, wave and seabed studies to continue over several years to inform planning assessments and the project’s feasibility.

For more information and to provide feedback, visit starofthesouth.com.au/getinvolved, call 1800 340 340, email info@starofthesouth.com.au or follow the Star of the South Project on Facebook.

Quotes attributable to Star of the South Chief Development Officer, Erin Coldham:

“We want to hear about what’s important to local communities as we continue our investigations – we’re kickstarting a formal planning process now so it’s a great opportunity to get involved and help shape the project.”

“Gippsland has been the home of power generation in Victoria for many years – offshore wind is an exciting new resource in the region which could create thousands of jobs in construction and hundreds of ongoing local jobs during operation.”

“We want to acknowledge the challenging time we’re all in and let local communities know we’re still progressing this exciting project and taking the next step in planning for Australia’s first offshore wind project.”

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