Offshore wind zone for Illawarra coast given green light
The federal government has given the go ahead for a huge offshore wind energy zone off the NSW South Coast.
Federal Climate Change Minister Chris Bowen is announcing the creation of the zone today, with climate activist groups supporting the proposal.
The zone will see wind turbines at sea generate 2.9 gigawatts of reliable renewable power, enough for 1.8 million homes, according to The Sydney Morning Herald.
Off shore wind farm in Liverpool, England.
The proposed zone will stretch from Stanwell Park to Kiama over 1022 square kilometres, which is believed to allow room for 20 turbines.
The zone has been reduced by a third after concerns were raised during community consultation.
The original plan had the wind farms to sit 10 kilometres offshore but they will now sit 20 kilometres away from the coast.
It's the fourth approved offshore wind zone approved in Australia with the others near Hunter region in NSW, near Gippsland and Portland in Victoria.
The government approved zones gives windfarm developers the go-ahead to create projects for the designated area.
The consultation process created fierce debate within the coastal community, who didn't want the look of their pristine coastline to change.
Others were concerned about damaging their marine environment.
Both the Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF) and the Climate Council are supporting the announcement.
Climate Council head of policy and advocacy Jennifer Rayner said the Illawarra had long been a manufacturing powerhouse and this would allow the region to continue to thrive in years to come.
"Offshore wind will be an important part of Australia's clean energy grid because it provides reliable, steady renewable energy right around the clock," Rayner said.
"This is one of the important ways we'll power Australia as our ageing and unreliable coal-fired generators close.
"We'll also need more onshore wind to grow a bigger, cleaner grid that can power our homes, businesses and clean manufacturing right across NSW and around the country."
ACF's climate program manager Gavan McFadzean said it was essential for Australia to get off "climate-wrecking fossil fuels and forge a clean energy future".
"Responsibly sited large-scale renewable energy projects are vital for the Illawarra so energy intensive businesses can stay in the region, local workers have access to ongoing jobs and everyone benefits from a safer climate," McFadzean said.
Despite the creation of the zone, the project would still need to be approved under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act, according to The Sydney Morning Herald.