Shoalhaven South Pacific Offshore Wind Project draws controversy amid clean energy resurgence

Vast swathes of the NSW south coast could become home to large-scale wind farms over the next two decades, but not everyone is on-board.

Australian clean energy company Oceanex plans to build a massive new offshore wind farm near Eden, which could power more than one million homes. Picture: Oceanex

Clean energy suppliers are betting big on windpower despite concerns from residents of the south coast that vast, ocean-borne projects will lead to the “industrialisation” of once pristine beaches.

From Wollongong to Eden, Australian and international developers have proposed at least three wind farms which would power millions of homes across NSW.

The proposed wind farms could be within 20km of regional towns.

Kiama teacher and Culburra Beach-native Daniel Hill is heavily involved in local communities up and down the south coast.

When plans for a major wind farm moved from Wollongong to the Jervis Bay area, he knew he had to fight back.

Kiama teacher Daniel Hill has launched a petition against offshore wind projects in the Jervis Bay area. Picture: Supplied

“The wind farm will be the biggest single development proposal the south coast has ever seen,” he said. “They’re going to be building blades the size of skyscrapers out at sea.

“It’s enormous. It will very much be visible from the shoreline. And, they’re being encouraged to do it by the state and federal governments.”

Led by a consortium of Australian and Spanish clean energy companies, the South Pacific Offshore Wind Project proposes construction of a floating windpower platform off the Illawarra-Shoalhaven coast, capable of producing as much as 1.6GW of power.

The project, which was originally slated for the Wollongong area, joins a number of similar projects across the southeast, including developments by the same company off the Hunter coast and Greater Gippsland in Victoria.

Following the project’s relocation to the Shoalhaven, Mr Hill launched an online petition against the development that has so far garnered more than 300 signatures.

He said his opposition to the clean energy project was not an attack on renewable energy developments, but instead focused on concerns wind power would lead to further industrialisation of prized beachfront towns.

Oceanex plans to build a massive new offshore wind farm near Eden, which could power more than one million homes. Picture: Oceanex

“Industrialisation always starts somewhere,” Mr Hill said. “Once you declare an area an industrial zone, it’s just the beginning.

“It grows and grows and grows. It’s going to have a huge impact on the future.”

Mr Hill warned the project would impact not only local residents, but the tourism on which many businesses relied.

Further south, Australian clean energy company Oceanex has proposed a $10 billion, 2,000MW wind farm off Eden.

The company, which has five clean energy projects slated for the coast, said the project would create energy for more than one million homes.

Chief executive Andy Evans said offshore wind farms were much larger, and more effective, than conventional, land-based projects.

“You can have one offshore wind farm as opposed to seven or eight on shore,” he said.

“That means, one project as opposed to eight separate communities who have to decide whether they want a wind farm there. Really, they’re bigger, better resourced, and a better investment.”

Oceanex CEO Andy Evans

Mr Evans believes Eden is the perfect location for a wind farm due to its proximity to the roaring forties.

In early December, Oceanex launched a series of public forums in Eden which Mr Evans said drew positive reactions.

But, with at least another 10 years until work even begins, Mr Evans acknowledged offshore wind farms had their detractors.

“The main things that go on the shore are manufacturing facilities,” he said.

“The turbines are huge, so a lot of the manufacturing is actually done at places like Port Kembla at BlueScope Steel.

“Places like Eden are not big enough for a lot of the manufacturing facilities that are needed.”

For Mr Hill, Wollongong and the “more industrialised” Illawarra coast was the perfect place for the Shoalhaven wind farm.

“I wouldn’t want to interrupt the quiet enjoyment of the beach for anybody in the Illawarra, but at the same time, Wollongong is already an active industrial city,” he said.

“It‘s a huge port city, and the steelworks are very supportive of these projects.

“If they need the power there for their industry, they should host the power.”

The South Pacific Offshore Wind Project has hosted information sessions for residents in the Shoalhaven in recent weeks.

The company was contacted for comment but did not reply in time for this article.