Community group No Offshore Turbines Ninety Mile Beach says newly released project documents and recent industry developments are raising growing concerns about the financial viability, environmental impacts and long-term uncertainty surrounding Victoria’s offshore wind rollout.
According to recent reporting by the Australian Financial Review, Victoria’s most advanced offshore wind project, Star of the South, may not reach full operation until at least 2037, with construction potentially extending across seven years.
The documents reportedly outline extensive onshore transmission infrastructure, multiple port requirements and the potential need for ongoing government-backed support mechanisms to help underwrite the projects.
“These timelines and funding uncertainties raise serious questions about affordability, deliverability and the level of financial risk potentially being placed on Victorian taxpayers and energy consumers,” a spokesperson for the group said.
The group said communities continue to raise concerns about the potential cumulative environmental impacts associated with large-scale offshore wind developments, including possible impacts on marine ecosystems, wildlife, seabed disturbance and coastal infrastructure.
Broader instability within the global offshore wind sector has also added to uncertainty surrounding proposed developments in Gippsland.
Reports indicate Corio Generation — previously linked to the proposed Great Eastern offshore wind project — has been restructuring parts of its offshore wind business amid difficult global market conditions and rising project costs.
However, no formal confirmation has been made regarding the future of the Great Eastern project itself.
The concerns come as communities continue reviewing environmental and planning documentation associated with offshore wind developments proposed along Victoria’s coastline.
“Victorians deserve full transparency before billions more are committed to projects facing escalating costs, extended delays, global industry instability and growing uncertainty over whether these developments are financially sustainable long term,” the spokesperson said.
