A stiff offshore breeze

Developers behind an offshore wind farm proposed for waters off the Central Coast have embarked on the process of seeking environmental approvals for the massive project, despite still awaiting formal declaration of that region as Australia’s second official development zone – but not all residents are happy about a wind farm ten kilometres offshore from Norah Head.

7 June 2023

ALAN HAYES

 

MANY residents in the top end of the Central Coast in beachside suburbs are up in arms about the offshore energy zone, which they believe will be an eyesore and impact on tourism in the area.

 

Residents have complained about the information flow from the government and the poor timing and locations of information sessions to allow full community engagement. Yet the Minister’s Office [Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water] maintain that the consultation process was promoted via advertisements in newspapers, radio advertisements, social media and flyers in letterboxes with QR codes to the consultation hub or news items on the department’s website.

 

The Grapevine can confirm that there was no media release or request for advertising received promoting the offshore wind farm proposal.

 

Coast residents, who were aware of the information sessions, have complained that community consultation  on the Central Coast were held during the day when most people were at work and unable to attend. The only evening session was held at Nelson Bay on 9 March 2023 from 5.00pm until 7.00pm – an impossibility for concerned working local residents to attend.

 

One northern Central Coast resident Glenna Cluff said that she attended the community session at 10.30am at Doyalson on 7 March. “It was terrible,” she said.

 

“There was no information about any of the potential projects. When asked where it would come ashore, I was told that question was too technical.

 

“I was surprised to learn the facilitator of the session was not from this area [Perth, in fact] and had absolutely no local knowledge.

 

“I found out a couple of weeks ago the department had this information I was asking about back in January or February 2023."

 

A referral under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (EPBC) for the up to 1.65GW for the Hunter Central-Coast Offshore Energy project was published for public consultation earlier this year.

 

The company behind the project says the move puts it among the first in the pipeline of proposed NSW offshore wind projects to have achieved this step in the planning process.

 

The up to 100 floating turbine project, is proposed for development along the coastline between Newcastle and Norah Head, public documents confirm, covering an area of around 700km2.

 

In February, the Albanese government opened consultation on establishing the development zone, seeking feedback from industry and community on how best to harness the offshore wind resource in the Pacific Ocean alongside the NSW Hunter region – a manufacturing powerhouse traditionally powered by coal.

 

That region is also part of the NSW government’s recently declared Hunter-Central Coast Renewable Energy Zone (REZ), named as the state’s fourth REZ – the first to include access to offshore wind, although these projects will be developed in Commonwealth waters.

 

But what are the advantages of offshore wind generation?

 

• Offshore wind speeds tend to be faster than on land. Small increases in wind speed yield large increases in energy production: a turbine in a 24-kmh wind can generate twice as much energy as a turbine in a 19-kmh wind. Faster wind speeds offshore mean much more energy can be generated.

 

• Offshore wind speeds tend to be steadier than on land. A steadier supply of wind means a more reliable source of energy.

 

• Many coastal areas have very high energy needs.

 

• Offshore wind farms have many of the same advantages as land-based wind farms – they provide renewable energy; they do not consume water; they provide a domestic energy source; they create jobs; and they do not emit environmental pollutants or greenhouse gases.

 

So, what are the disadvantages?

 

Offshore wind farms built within view of the coastline (up to 42 kilometres offshore, depending on viewing conditions) may be unpopular among local residents, and may affect tourism and property values.

 

Offshore wind farms can be expensive and difficult to build and maintain. In particular:

 

• It is very hard to build robust and secure wind farms in water deeper than around 60 metres, or over half a football field’s length

 

• Wave action, and even very high winds, particularly during heavy storms or hurricanes, can damage wind turbines.
  
  

• The production and installation of power cables under the seafloor to transmit electricity back to land can be very expensive.

 

• Effects of offshore wind farms on marine animals and birds are not fully understood.

 

• Increase ocean noise, which could affect the behaviour of fish, whales, and other species. Introduce electro-magnetic fields that impact navigation, predator detection, communication, and the ability for fish and shellfish to find mates.