Wind Zone Moved Further Off NSW Coastline to Protect Sea Creatures

A supplied image obtained on Aug. 19, 2023, of a screen shot of a mother and calf southern right whale travelling down the NSW North coast and are expected to land in Sydney's Harbour over the weekend. (AAP Image/Supplied by DPE Environment and Heritage)

A southeast offshore wind zone near Sydney has been shifted to protect the little penguin, southern right whale, and the Shelf rocky reefs.

The Australian government is building their fourth officially declared wind zone in the Pacific Ocean 20 kilometres (12 miles) off the Illawarra coast in New South Wales (NSW).

Originally, the wind zone began 10 kilometres (6 miles) from the coast and would have impacted the biologically important area of the little penguin and the migration and breeding areas of the southern right whale.

But, after consulting the community, including local leaders, unions, Indigenous Australians, industry, community groups, and individuals, the zone was pushed further back from the shoreline.

“Amending the zone so that it commences 20 kilometres from the coast and excluding significant environmental areas is a sensible compromise,” Labor MP Alison Byrnes said in a press release.

She added that this “reflects the majority community opinion while achieving fewer emissions and more renewable energy and jobs.”

In a media release, the Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF) welcomed the declared Illawarra offshore wind zone.

ACF climate program manager Gavan McFadzean said that well-sited and managed renewable energy benefits nature.

A general view of smoke rising from the steelworks in Wollongong, Australia, on Feb. 1, 2021. (Brook Mitchell/Getty Images)

New Size and Power of Project

The final area for the zone is 1,022 km²—reducing the zone by a third from the originally proposed zone.

It is estimated to have the potential to generate up to 2.9 GW of power for the Illawarra community, enough to power 1.8 million households.

However, wind zones typically only generate 41 percent of their full capacity over a year.

Power plants do not operate 100 percent of the time because of stoppages and maintenance. Meanwhile, wind turbines operate 70 to 85 percent of the time, but power output depends on wind speeds.

Turbines do not reach their maximum power output in wind speeds less than 15 metres per second and at very high wind speeds, for example, gale winds of 25 metres per second, they shut down.

Therefore, the zone may generate around 1.2 GW of power over a year.

Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen said Illawarra has been an engine room of the Australian economy for generations.

The government said the project is intended to secure energy, regional job growth, and industry—including the largest steelworks in Australia—in the region.

It is also expected to bring 1,740 new jobs to the region during construction and 870 ongoing jobs once it’s built. The project will employ engineers, seafarers, dockworkers, riggers, project managers, administrators, technicians, and operators.

The Maritime Union welcomed the project in 2023 following its announcement, stating that it would lead to hundreds of new maritime jobs.

A wind turbine in Albany, Western Australia, on Feb. 18, 2024. (Susan Mortimer/The Epoch Times)

Next Step

Ms. Byrnes said the zone declaration is not the final step.

“There is now an extensive process of studies and approvals that will be required but this is a positive step for a region that wants to secure its industrial future and power it using clean energy,” she said.

Ms. Byrnes expects all proponents to ensure their projects meet the highest environmental standards and incorporate local content.

This includes using locally produced steel, a regional workforce, and developing a strong benefit-sharing scheme so the community meaningfully benefits from hosting an offshore wind farm.

Applications for feasibility licences—provide developers with the right to assess whether an offshore infrastructure project is feasible—will open on June 17 and close on Aug. 15.

The licences will be granted to projects that do the most to protect the environment, share marine space with shipping, tourist and fishing industries, and support Australian workforces and energy security.

Construction can begin when the feasibility stage is completed and the environmental and management plans of developers have been approved. Benefits to Australian industry and jobs must also be demonstrated.