Right now, the Commonwealth government is holding a consultation on declaring an 'Offshore Renewable Energy Area' in the ocean 20-100km off the coast of SW WA.
This is an incredible opportunity for West Australian workers and our entire community to build the renewable energy infrastructure we need to create thousands of good union jobs and address the climate crisis.
- Offshore wind can provide bulk electricity to keep WA's manufacturing going and allow the alumina refinery to keep operating long into the future. It means billions in investment into the whole region.
- The Port of Bunbury could be a major hub for onshore and offshore renewable energy infrastructure for the whole state.
- The Bunbury area was chosen because it has a skilled workforce, great electricity grid connections and port infrastructure, and a location close to large electricity loads.
- Strong and consistent offshore winds blow at times that solar power isn't available. Ten gigawatts (10,000 megawatts) of fixed-bottom offshore wind turbines could be built off Bunbury. WA currently operates 1.7 GW (1,700 MW) of coal fired power stations. Electricity demand will grow as more systems are electrified to reduce emissions.
- Wind turbines can create habitat for fish and other marine life. Building renewable energy will help address climate change, which is currently the greatest threat to ocean life.
- Many of the key fishing species in SW WA are highly sensitive to climate change. The average ocean temperature around Bunbury has already increased by 1 degree since 1950, and marine heatwaves are become much more common. WA's oceans are already 30% more acidic than they were in the 1800s and this could double.
We are asking everyone in the community to participate in the consultation and show their support for the Declaration of this Offshore Renewable Energy Area, before 3 May 2024.
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West Australian Offshore Wind Consultation
Go to: https://consult.dcceew.gov.au/oei-bunbury/new-survey-2ecbe7ee (QR code)
Below are the questions the government is asking about the proposed Offshore Wind Area: Indian Ocean off Bunbury, Western Australia, with suggested answers. If you have time, please add your own commentary or use your own words.
Environment: Can you see any benefits related to the environment?
Click 'yes'. Building offshore wind projects will help reduce carbon emissions that cause climate change, which is the greatest environmental threat we face.
Concerns? No.
Visual amenity: Any concerns related to visual amenity? Click 'No'.
Community: Can you see any benefits or opportunities related to the community and onshore transmission?
Click 'yes'. This is a great opportunity. To ensure the benefits are shared among workers and communities the Minister must require that renewable energy projects in the Area:
- Provide secure, quality, union jobs
- Minimum apprenticeships ratios and training and transition opportunities for energy workers
- Maximise Australian manufacturing for offshore wind, including wind turbine components, cables, and vessels
- Provide benefits for First Nations people
- Require the use of Regulated Australian Vessels with Navigation Act qualifications for crew.
The government must build a publicly owned common user port terminal for construction and maintenance, and publicly owned transmission infrastructure from the grid to shared offshore connection points.
Concerns? No.
Fishing: Can you see any benefits or opportunities related to fishing?
Click 'yes'. Wind turbines may provide habitat for fish and other sea life, and could improve recreational fishing. Climate change and the heating of the oceans are a much greater threat to fish stocks than wind turbines. Recreational fishers must be allowed to fish within the boundaries of offshore wind farms (as is the case in the USA and UK) and as close as possible to wind turbines.
Concerns? No.
Any other benefits or concerns?
Digital rendering of offshore wind turbines to illustrate how they would look when built 20km from shore. From Marlston Hill lookout, Bunbury. See https://consult.dcceew.gov.au/oei-bunbury
Map of the proposed offshore wind area
QR code to the interactive maps: https://amsis-geoscience-au.hub.arcgis.com/pages/renewables
The yellow area is the proposed area where offshore wind turbines could be sited, pending further applications. Blue areas are marine parks. Yellow and red are electricity transmission lines.
Offshore Wind: Good for our Environment, Good for our community
ARE OFFSHORE WIND TURBINES A RELIABLE SOURCE OF ELECTRICITY?
Yes. The wind off the WA coast is strong and consistent, especially in the evening when solar power isn't available. Wind turbines were first built offshore in 1991 in the harsh North Sea off Denmark and the technology has been continuously improved. 47% of Denmark's electricity now comes from wind power. Thousands of offshore wind turbines are successfully operating across 20 countries. In Australia, the CSIRO has found that offshore wind is cheaper than gas peaking power, hydrogen power and nuclear power.
WILL WIND TURBINES AFFECT THE SWELL?
No. Turbines will be 20km or more offshore and are large distances apart. Offshore wind farms exist off the coast of many surf beaches and cause no harm to surf conditions.
WILL THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT OR FISHING BE NEGATIVELY AFFECTED?
No. Climate change and the heating of oceans is the greatest threat to ocean life such as whales and fish. Many of the key fishing species in SW WA are highly sensitive to climate change. The average ocean temperature around Bunbury has already increased by 1 degree since 1950, and marine heatwaves are become much more common. WA's oceans are already 30% more acidic than they were in the 1800s and this could double.
This consultation is about the extent of the possible zone for offshore wind. Any specific project will have to make another licence application and go through extensive environmental study and approval processes.
Globally, recreational fishing is allowed all through wind farms once construction is complete. There may be exclusion zones keeping fishers away from infrastructure during construction but these are temporary measures.
ARE WIND TURBINES A THREAT TO BIRDS?
A recent study of bird behaviour near offshore wind turbines in Aberdeen Bay found no collisions in two years of monitoring. Climate change poses a much greater threat to birds than wind turbines. Wind power is vital to the effort to stop climate change.
WILL WHALES BE AFFECTED?
There is no evidence that whale migration patterns are affected by offshore wind turbines. Studies into whale deaths in the US found that wind turbines were not responsible. Whales were dying because of collisions with ships, swallowing plastic, or getting caught in fishing gear.
The location of individual offshore wind farms will be the subject of environmental studies and approvals processes, which will take into account any whale migration and calving patterns.
Whale and Dolphin Conservation Australia says that 'Climate change is one of the biggest threats facing whales and dolphins today.'
CAN THE TURBINES BE SEEN FROM THE SHORE?
The land-side edge of the zone is 20-30km from the coast. They will be visible but difficult to see.
IS ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION AN ISSUE?
No. There is more exposure to electromagnetic radiation from a mobile phone or microwave oven.
In addition to the metallic covering around the cable, undersea power cables are typically buried under the seafloor for their protection. As electromagnetic fields from undersea power cables decrease rapidly with distance from the cable, burying the cables substantially reduces the levels of magnetic and induced electric fields in seawater.
DOES THE ZONE OVERLAP OUR MARINE PARKS AND PROTECTED AREAS?
No.
There is a buffer zone between the proposed offshore wind area and the Geographe Marine Park, the South West Corner Marine Park, Ngari Capes Marine Park and the Perth Canyon Marine Park.
They do not overlap.
