DEBATE over the merits of an offshore wind farm off the Port Stephens and Myall Coast has reintensified in the week since Climate and Energy Minister Chris Bowen opened applications for a Research and Demonstration licence.
Supporters of the project, including the Hunter Jobs Alliance (JA), say those who want the declared wind zone withdrawn are “repeating misleading” claims and represent a “very small minority view”.
As reported in News Of The Area (27 January) the minister’s announcement ahead of the Australia Day long weekend progresses the research and development phase to “demonstration” (also referred to as R&D), which involves trials and testing of renewable technology.
It also signals that the government is moving on from the setback of Australian company Oceanex and Norwegian-based Equinor pulling out of the project.
In criticising the project’s revival, Member for Lyne Alison Penfold shared that the Minister had “gone against the community’s wishes,” a sentiment echoed by President of the Newcastle and Port Stephens Game Fish Club (NPSGFC) Troy Radford, and members of the community groups “Save the Myall Coast Save Port Stephens” and “No Offshore Turbines Port Stephens”.
However, coordinator of the HJA, Justin Page, has refuted their claims about the environmental, social, and regulatory aspects of offshore wind projects.
“These claims misrepresent both how offshore wind is assessed and regulated in Australia and the true diversity of community views,” Mr Page shared in a statement to NOTA.
“Offshore wind, particularly at the research and demonstration stage, offers tangible economic and
environmental benefits for the Hunter and Port Stephens regions.
“What began as a narrow vested interest in recreational fishing has become a coordinated, politically motivated campaign against Labor governments.”
He described as “incorrect” Mr Radford’s claim that the offshore wind farm off Port Stephens “didn’t stack up” due to environmental risk, economic justification, and social licence, and said these assessments would only have been undertaken during formal feasibility studies – had a licence been accepted.
“Moreover, environmental, navigational safety, and stakeholder impact assessments are not prepared by the Federal Government, as Mr Radford suggests. They are undertaken by developers after accepting a licence and are independently assessed by Commonwealth regulators before any project can proceed.”
Mr Page said he has engaged with Equinor over the past two years and cited its official explanation for withdrawing from the project as “a combination of broader global challenges affecting the industry and developers… and project-specific factors.”
According to industry group Hunter New Energy, the project was expected to generate more than 2 gigawatts of electricity if it proceeded, along with “thousands of construction jobs and several hundred ongoing roles”.
A statement on its website reads: “[This] new round of Federal offshore wind research and demonstration licences has quietly reopened the long-term opportunity for Newcastle reframing the Hunter zone as a testbed for future development.”
Salamander Bay resident Kathy Brown also contacted NOTA to question the veracity of the arguments used by opponents.
She rejects Ms Penfold’s assertion that the community has made it “blatantly clear” that offshore wind is not feasible or wanted off the Port Stephens and Myall Coast.
“What the community made blatantly clear on this side of the Bay was their support for Labor at the last Federal Election,” Ms Brown said, “where the incumbent MP was returned with an increased majority.
“That’s the only thing close to a survey I have seen on the topic of offshore wind.
“Those who say that it is not supported by the community aren’t basing that observation on any facts.”
Federal Labor MP for Hunter Dan Repacholi told reporters last week that it was important to make sure that the government was speaking and consulting with the public.
“[And] also making sure that all the right environmental laws and protections are in place to make sure that the right things are being done.”
At the time of writing, Member for Paterson Meryl Swanson had yet to issue a public comment on the latest development but has previously thrown her support behind the project.
By Sue STEPHENSON
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