Adelegation of concerned citizens led by Member for Barker Tony Pasin met with Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen in Canberra last Wednesday to voice their concerns regarding the proposed Southern Ocean offshore wind zone.
The group of big industry names included SA Rock Lobster Advisory Council executive officer Nathan Kimber, RecFish SA executive officer Asher Dezsery, Southern Coast Ocean Care chairperson Chris Carrison and member Jeremy Ievins, Grant District Mayor Kylie Boston and Game Fishing Association of Australia president Ian Bladin.
An approximately 300km stretch of coast between Warrnambool and Port MacDonnell is currently under active consideration for a Declaration as an Area Suitable for Offshore Renewable Energy Infrastructure Development.
Offshore wind developers, including BlueFloat Energy, are exploring plans for projects within the proposed zone.
Mr Pasin held a community meeting in Port MacDonnell in April this year to hear the community’s concerns about the BlueFloat proposal.
“At that meeting I undertook to write to Minister Chris Bowen, inviting him to visit Port Mac and speak with the hundreds of residents who will be impacted by his decision,” Mr Pasin said.
“The subsequent letter I sent to the Minister received no response. Nor did a second letter.
“The third letter I sent the Minister offered that a delegation would travel from Port Mac to Canberra to meet with the Minister at his convenience.
“This invitation was accepted.”
Minister Bowen has since said he is not planning to travel to Port MacDonnell regarding the matter.
“It’s not about the loudest voices; it’s about the best cases,” he said.
“I see the concerns in submissions, listen, weigh it up. I’m not going to go to every town of every zone that we’re considering declaring.
“I do not want to pre-empt my decision but certainly changes to the original zone are not only possible but quite likely.”
Mr Pasin said the fact that members of the community were willing to take time to travel to Canberra at their own expense was a powerful indication of the importance of the issue.
“The Minister was generous with his time and listened to concerns but ultimately, he will not be making a decision until the consultation process has concluded,” he said.
“I encourage everyone to get involved in the consultation process by completing the survey or making a written submission to the department.
“It’s vital that each and every voice on this matter is on the record.”
The proposal is a first step of engagement for government to seek public feedback on the marine uses and users across the region, and further public feedback will be sought by developers as individual projects are proposed and developed.
The survey can be accessed through the online Have Your Say portal at consult.dcceew.gov.au/oei-southern-ocean until midnight on August 31.
Minister Bowen described the consultation process as “very intense and real”.
“I’ll certainly be making a decision this year, but it will not be straight after the 31st of August,” he said.
“There’s been several consultation sessions, but I also have to weigh up the economic benefit for the region and for the country of cheaper renewable energy coming on and make the right call at the end of the day.”
