By Josh Sinclair*
AS many of us enjoyed our summer holiday, a small parcel of reclaimed land inside Western Port made national headlines.
Situated between a major steel manufacturer and the Long Island Point gas plant is the reclaimed land foreshadowed by the state government as the home to the Victorian Renewable Energy Terminal.
The federal government’s recent intervention to halt the project has created uncertainty for the region and the offshore wind industry. However, given the sensitive environmental and biodiversity concerns of a Ramsar listed wetlands, it’s important these matters are handled delicately and with great care for our environment.
Western Port is the jewel in the Mornington Peninsula’s crown. It is home to world famous weedy seadragons, Phillip Island’s thriving colony of little penguins, and French Island National Park – home to Victoria’s most significant koala population.
The peninsula community takes its role as local defenders of Western Port incredibly seriously. In 2019, the community fought off the proposed floating gas storage and re-gasification unit (FSRU) at Crib Point and, in March 2021, the planning minister ruled that the project was unacceptable.
This was an important moment for the future of the bay in determining what industries are acceptable in our region. As a result, groups like the Westen Port Biosphere Foundation are working with local governments and key stakeholders to try and develop a framework for government and major proponents to develop guidelines and create stability. For the community and industry, this is pivotal work.
Over recent years, the state government has given itself some very ambitious renewable energy targets to try and accelerate emissions reductions across Victoria. A target of 25 per cent by 2020 proved successful, but the updated targets of 65 per cent by 2030 and 95 per cent by 2035 will be more difficult to reach.
Offshore wind has its own targets too, with 2GW of offshore wind generation originally anticipated by 2032, and 9GW by 2040. It’s fair to say these targets came to a screeching halt in December when the federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek vetoed plans for the renewable energy terminal to be built at the Port of Hastings.
The state government remains “undeterred” and will assess what options it has available.
So, how did we end up in this situation?
The Commonwealth could have afforded Victoria the opportunity to amend its proposal before it rejected it as being “totally unacceptable”.
Both levels of government are enthusiastic supporters of the offshore wind industry, particularly the Gippsland offshore wind zone – but a terminal that is strategically located close to Gippsland and close to a substantially qualified workforce is necessary for the industry to take its first steps.
Both governments need to work out a solution, as further delays will only stall the state’s renewable energy transition and send offshore wind proponents to other states or other parts of the world.
The scale of dredging required is clearly a problem for the community, and the federal government acknowledged this as one of its key concerns in making its decision. So too is the project’s footprint and its effect on migratory birds and marine life.
To address some of these concerns, the state government could look towards a multi-port model, scaling back the size of the terminal in Hastings and using ports at Barry Beach (near Toora in Gippsland) and Geelong to share the assembly process. These two additional ports have been identified by offshore wind proponents as crucial, so plans are already underway to use them for servicing, maintenance and operations.
However, it’s critical that the home of offshore wind assembly remains at the Port of Hastings.
Hastings was identified by the state government as the most appropriate location for the terminal. It has strategic advantages over Gippsland and Geelong given its proximity to Melbourne’s workforce, natural deep water channels and available land.
Furthermore, offshore wind components are obtrusive, heavy, and require a unique set of requirements that no terminal in Victoria is currently capable of assembling.
If the state government’s response or appeal means a pathway to an environmental effects statement (EES) process is possible, then the socio-economic benefits for Hastings and surrounding townships are important to discuss.
Hastings frequently tops government lists of disadvantage, rental stress and unemployment statistics. Australian Bureau of Statistics data from the 2021 Australian census ranks Hastings as the most disadvantaged suburb in Melbourne, alongside Capel Sound, Sunshine, Cranbourne and Broadmeadows.
An industry that is home grown and nation leading will require local jobs and skills. Opportunities for the often forgotten side of the Mornington Peninsula don’t come up often, so we should embrace these positive winds of change which will bring so much good to our region.
As the nation continues its transition to a clean energy future, Hastings has an opportunity to assert itself as the home of renewable energy in Victoria. Our region could play a pivotal role in the nation’s battle against the adverse effects of climate change.
With the right balance and the opportunity to commence a thorough EES process, offshore wind assembly could redefine Hastings for the next half a century.
*Josh Sinclair is CEO of the Committee for Frankston and Mornington Peninsula
First published in the Western Port News – 20 February 2024
