Alocal seaside town is holding its breath as it awaits a Federal Government decision regarding a decision which has caused tidal waves through the community.


The consultation period for the Southern Ocean offshore wind zone held by Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen closed on August 31.


Minister Bowen then had a minimum of about 10 weeks to decide whether the proposed area, stretching around 300km of coast from Warrnambool to Port MacDonnell, was suitable for offshore renewable energy developments.


Now more than four months since the consultation period closed, residents are awaiting an answer.


“The Minister for Climate Change and Energy is considering all public submissions and ongoing feedback from stakeholders before making a decision,” a spokesperson for Minister Bowen said.


Opposition from Port MacDonnell residents throughout the consultation period led to a group of concerned locals forming the Southern Coast Ocean Care (SCOC) group to protest the proposed development.


SCOC created an online petition protesting the proposed zone once the consultation period ended which received more than 4500 signatures when it closed last October.


The group’s campaign was bolstered in August when the State Government made a submission to the Minister, expressing concerns about the potential impact construction of an offshore windfarm in that area could have on South Australia’s southern fisheries and marine environment.


The State Government acknowledged the area was “home to other important fisheries including abalone, marine scalefish, bluefin tuna, as well as recreational fisheries, and is in close proximity to the state’s marine park sanctuary zones”.


“The energy generated within the zone would also be connected exclusively to the Victorian power grid,” the government’s submission said.


“Commercial fishers have raised concerns about biomass, juvenile recruitment and settlement, the impact of noise, vibration and loss of habitat, electromagnetic fields, all of which may impact on future catches.


“Importantly, the proposed ‘declared area’ directly overlaps with an area that is recognised for its biological and oceanographic significance at a national and international level, with the area well known for the Bonney Coast upwelling.


“Further concerns are held for the proposal’s impact on biodiversity, ecosystems, and impact on a wide range of wildlife, including pygmy blue whale, southern right whale, white shark, Australasian gannet, wedge-tailed shearwater and several species of albatross.


“The State Government submission recommends the Commonwealth moves or reduces the size of the proposed area to remove any waters adjacent to the South Australia coast.”


SCOC member Suzie Fulham said the group was now waiting knowing it had done all it could to prevent the approval of the Southern Ocean offshore wind zone.


“We’re just waiting really, there’s not much else we can do without knowing which direction we’re heading in,” she said.


“After the submissions closed and then we did our own petition, we thought we have done everything we can for now.


“There’s not really much else we can do until we hear further news so hopefully it is good news and they do not put it here.


“It is definitely a lot longer wait down here (compared to other areas like Gippsland) so whether it is no news is good news, we are not really sure.


“Our organisation is now incorporated and we have got our own constitution so we have got everything in place in case we need it.


“It’s always still in the back of your mind, we do not know, anything could happen.”


More than 400 Port MacDonnell residents attended a consultation held in the town during July by the Department of Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Water in opposition to the project with a number of residents choosing to address their concerns in written submissions to Minister Bowen.


The proposal was a first step of engagement for government to seek public feedback on the marine uses and users across the region.


In August, Member for Barker Tony Pasin led a delegation of concerned citizens including members of SCOC to meet with Minister Bowen in Canberra to voice their concerns regarding the zone during the consultation period.


Mrs Fulham said the recent mass fish death event at Eight Mile Creek, east of Port MacDonnell was a reminder of the fragility of the local marine ecosystem.