The Australian Conservation Foundation has welcomed the declaration of an Illawarra offshore wind zone.
Following community consultations, the Albanese government has announced a wind energy zone 20 kilometres off the coast that will exclude important places for Little penguins and migration and reproduction areas for Southern right whales.
"Offshore wind is essential for Australia to get off climate-wrecking fossil fuels and forge a clean energy future," said ACF's climate program manager Gavan McFadzean.
"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.
"This excellent announcement comes after thorough community and stakeholder feedback led to amendment of the boundaries of the zone to meet community expectations and avoid high conservation values.
"While some politicians and commentators try to divide communities by seeding Trump-style disinformation about renewables, Australians overwhelmingly back clean energy.
"Renewable energy, when it's well sited and managed, is a benefit to nature because it helps combat global warming, which poses a grave risk to nature."
Read a joint statement by 14 environment groups: Building renewables to benefit nature and communities
