Community concern is growing over a proposed offshore wind turbine project near Port MacDonnell, with more than 100 people attending a public forum this week.

Member for Barker Tony Pasin hosted the forum on Monday evening to discuss the Southern Winds Offshore Wind Project.

The project, located 8-20km off the coastline between Port MacDonnell and Nelson, is being jointly developed by Blue Float Energy and Energy Estate.

It is anticipated the coastal wind project will host up to 77 offshore turbines, each with a capacity of between 15-20 MW, as well as two offshore substations.

Mr Pasin said he had been briefed by Blue Float Energy, before meeting with local residents.

“I’d seen there’d been some community interest in it … and I thought the best thing for me to do was do what politicians should do more regularly, and that is listen,” he said.

Mr Pasin said community members had expressed concern about their livelihoods and lifestyle being impacted by the development.

“My sense is they do not feel like they have the information they need right now about this project,” he said.

“This is a very significant process project, a detailed process and they’re really concerned, and they’re concerned as much about the process as the outcome, but I can tell you there was no-one who expressed support for the project last night,” Mr Pasin said.

“My message to Blue Float is you have a lot of work to do if you want to get that community onside in respect to this project.”

Mr Pasin said he intended to relay the community’s concerns to the developers.

“I told the company when I took a briefing that I intended to consult with the community,” he said.

“I should say there were two actions the community asked me to take last night.

“I was really pleased that last night what I heard was a community saying, you know what, we need to organise, we need to get a committee working together to develop our position in relation to this project.”

Mr Pasin said residents had urged him to invite Energy Minister Chris Bowen to Port MacDonnell, as he was required to declare the proposal launched under the offshore electricity infrastructure Act suitable for development, which was yet to happen.

“The community are rightfully saying, in my view, that if Mr Bowen wishes to make that declaration, a declaration which in the community’s view at this stage would impact their lifestyles and livelihoods, then he should come and see the community for himself,” Mr Pasin said.

“It should be above politics and the community asked me to indicate that if he does not wish to come and see for himself, then I’ll support a delegation of Port MacDonnell residents to Canberra.

“This is a really significant issue and one that needs to be taken really seriously by both the proponent, the Federal Minister and the community.”