The Hon Chris Bowen MP, Minister for Climate Change and Energy
The Hon Lily D'Ambrosio MP, Victorian Minister for Energy and Resources
The Albanese Government is securing Victoria's regional jobs and energy future with the next steps for the Southern Ocean and Gippsland offshore wind zones announced today.
After a preliminary offer in September last year, the Government has made a final decision to offer Spinifex Offshore a feasibility licence for its planned wind farm in the Southern Ocean zone.
Spinifex's planned wind farm will cover just 265 km2 of the 1,030 km2 Southern Ocean wind zone yet could generate 1.2GW of reliable renewable energy, enough power to provide 10% of Victoria's electricity needs.
The project has the potential to create hundreds of well-paid, ongoing jobs for workers, including engineers, technicians and divers, as well as new opportunities for suppliers and jobs at the Portland aluminium smelter.
Throughout construction and operation, Spinifex's planned wind farm could inject hundreds of millions of dollars into Southwest Victoria's economy and support local manufacturing and production.
A newly established Southern Ocean Wind Industry Committee - comprising Spinifex, Victorian and local governments, First Nations groups, local industry and workers' representatives - will work together to maximise economic and social benefits for Southwest Victoria.
This reflects how the Government is ensuring the project includes as much local content as possible, delivering benefits for workers, industries and the region's economy.
Now that a feasibility licence has been awarded, the licence holder must consult further with the community and undertake environmental assessments as part of the feasibility studies supporting their offshore wind project. In addition, they are required by law to consult with the fishing industry and avoid, mitigate and offset any impacts on fishing.
Spinifex must obtain all necessary approvals before applying for the commercial licence that will allow construction to begin.
Today, the Government is also announcing the first management plan has been approved by the independent Offshore Infrastructure Registrar to Blue Mackerel North, who currently hold a feasibility licence in Gippsland. This paves the way for their next step in assessing the commercial viability of a project, including geotechnical and metocean investigations.
The Minister has also made a preliminary decision not to offer a licence to Seadragon in the Gippsland zone.
Attributable to Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen:
"The Albanese Government is securing Victoria's jobs and energy future with the offshore wind industry the former Coalition Government promised but failed to deliver.
"We're fixing the broken offshore wind plan left behind by the Coalition to ensure communities reap the full social and economic benefits of this burgeoning industry.
"We back offshore wind because done right it has huge potential for jobs, new industry, and clean, reliable renewable energy in Portland and beyond.
"Peter Dutton prefers to cheer on job losses with his backflip on offshore wind in favour of a $600 billion nuclear scheme that won't deliver enough power to keep the Portland smelter running and will see the end of regional Victoria's industry."
Attributable to Minister for Energy and Resources Lily D'Ambrosio:
"Victoria is leading the nation in the development of the country's first offshore wind generation industry which will create hundreds of jobs, support key industries like manufacturing and deliver reliable renewable energy as coal-fired power plants close.
"We're harnessing the strong winds off the Victorian coast to deliver more renewable energy that will strengthen our energy grid and provide cheaper and more reliable power to our homes and businesses.
"Our offshore wind industry will create reliable renewable energy for our homes and businesses and benefits the local community through jobs, local supply chains and community benefit sharing program.
"We look forward to working with Spinifex to maximise the benefits the project will bring to the South West region through there community benefits scheme."
