An online petition created by local group Southern Coast Ocean Care in protesting the proposed Southern Ocean offshore wind zone received more than 4500 signatures.

After a 10 week wait, Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen will decide in the coming weeks whether the proposed area, which is 300km off the coast from Warrnambool to Port MacDonnell, is suitable for offshore renewable energy developments.

SCOC decided to create awareness about their stance against the proposal by creating a petition.

E-peitition organiser and Southern Coast Ocean Care member Kacee Driver said she was pleased the petition closed with a total of 4649 signatures.

“When considering the size of the township of Port MacDonnell, we think it has done well,” she said.

“The petition will go to Minister Bowen for him to reflect and be reminded about the opposition to the proposal, 10,000 signatures would have triggered a legislative review.

“This was the goal however the committee is proud of the signatures achieved which did not come without effort.”

Group member Suzie Fulham said during the four weeks of the e-petition, the committee displayed petition flyers in many businesses around Port MacDonnell and Mount Gambier.

“We did what we could with limited time and on a shoe string budget,” she said.

“SCOC would like to thank every business and volunteer that played a part in creating awareness by displaying posters, letter box drops, sharing the e-petiton on Facebook, text messages, emails.

“Even just talking about the petition to people, who maybe were unaware of the proposed off shore wind. Absolutely every little action has helped.”

Group member Lisa Priddle said she would like to thank all the volunteers who helped distribute petition flyers in letterboxes across Mount Gambier.

“Over 5000 flyers were distributed during our campaign. Our volunteers were amazing and greatly appreciated,” she said.

“We are lucky to have community-minded people like this out there, willing to step up when needed.

“Chris Bowen makes his decision some time before Christmas on the zone so other than waiting, we as a committee are staying informed and raising awareness in the community about the proposed project through conversations, posters, signs, newspaper articles, radio interviews and social media.”