The Nationals claim major win for Illawarra after controversial offshore wind farm put on hold

There is celebration as the proponent of the controversial offshore wind zone project requested a pause on its application.

The Department of Climate Change, Energy the Environment and Water Illawarra wind farm. Proposed zone.

The federal government has postponed its decision on an offshore wind zone in New South Wales’ Illawarra region until after the next federal election, following a request from the project’s top proponent.

Energy Minister Chris Bowen confirmed that he had agreed to the US-owned renewable energy company’s request to pause the assessment process.

US-based BlueFloat Energy issued a statement on Friday explaining its position.

“In August 2024, BlueFloat Energy lodged an application for a feasibility licence in the Illawarra offshore wind area of New South Wales,” the statement read.

“The application is still under assessment, however BlueFloat has requested the Commonwealth government consider not offering any licences in the Illawarra zone until after the upcoming federal election.”

The Nationals are claiming a major victory for the Illawarra community after the proponent of the controversial offshore wind zone project requested a pause on its application.

Mr Bowen acknowledged that BlueFloat had expressed concerns about investing in the project amid political uncertainty.

“The Illawarra applicant, which … already has to overcome certain obstacles in deep floating water, they have been concerned by the politics that are being created by Peter Dutton and Ted O’Brien,” he said.

He also defended the company’s decision to seek a delay, emphasising the financial implications for the developer.

“If they get a licence, they then need to proceed to the next stage, which involves spending their money on further feasibility work, further consultations, and they say, ‘If we are going to spend the money we need a bit of certainty,’” Mr Bowen said.

The Illawarra offshore wind zone, initially proposed at 1,461 square kilometres, was scaled down to 1,022 square kilometres when formally declared by the federal government in June 2024. It spans from Stanwell Park to Kiama, little over an hour south of Sydney.

Public consultation on the project began in August 2023.

The project has been criticised for being on a whale migration path, with claims Labor’s ‘all-renewables approach’ threatens the environment.

The proposed wind farm was met with strong opposition from a section of locals.

On Friday afternoon, Nationals Leader David Littleproud said his party had led the charge against what he called “Labor’s bad idea”.

“The Nationals were the first political party to have the courage to commit to ruling this project out last year and instead prioritise protecting the natural environment,” Mr Littleproud said.

He credited The Nationals’ candidate for Whitlam, Katrina Hodgkinson, for her role in opposing the project, describing her as a “strong advocate and a local champion”.

“In fact, just last week, the anti-wind farm locals proudly rallied with us. They know The Nationals will stand shoulder-to-shoulder with them in this fight,” he added.

Hodgkinson reinforced her commitment to blocking the wind farm, which she argued had lacked proper community consultation and remained without environmental approvals.

“I will continue my dedicated opposition to the Labor/Greens proposed offshore wind farm, who have ignored locals for months on end,” she said.

Nationals Leader David Littleproud said the party had led the charge against what he called ‘Labor’s bad idea”’. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

She also criticised the project for being on a whale migration path and argued that Labor’s “all-renewables approach” threatened the environment it aimed to protect.

“The project is clearly now in doubt but sadly it took the passion of the community to force this to be paused, rather than Labor listening to the concerns of locals,” Hodgkinson said.

Nationals Senator for New South Wales Ross Cadell did not hold back in his assessment of the project and the handling by Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen.

“This ‘smaller’ project would still cover a huge 1,022 square kilometres,” Senator Cadell said.

“This project was always a dumb idea that was never going to work. It was an unrealistic project backed by a Minister devoid of reality.”

Cadell suggested that the lack of interest from private developers demonstrated the project’s unfeasibility.

“The industry has voted with its capital. I encourage the people of the Illawarra to share their frustration with Minister Bowen at the ballot box,” he concluded.