By PHILIP HOPKINS

 

THE Star of the South offshore wind project has lodged its Environmental Impact Statement for approval under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act. This is the primary environmental approval required for the project to proceed. Star of the South is the first Australian offshore wind project to reach this milestone.

This comes off the back of a major land purchase where the project’s cables will come to shore, securing renewed Major Project Status with the federal government, and formally entering into an Engagement Agreement with the Traditional Owners through the Gunaikurnai Land and Waters Aboriginal Corporation (GLaWAC).

The environmental approval submission follows seven years of technical and environmental studies, including an extensive marine survey program. It draws on 26 technical studies examining potential effects of the project on environmental, cultural, social and economic values.

Star of the South Chief Executive, Charles Rattray said the assessment is the most comprehensive ever undertaken for an energy project in Australia.

“This environmental assessment reflects seven years of rigorous science and consultation to understand the local environment and how to protect it. We’ve done the work, and then some, to ensure government and the community can have confidence that the project will be delivered responsibly,” he said.

In a separate milestone, Star of the South has bought 120 hectares of farmland on Gippsland’s coast near Reeves Beach. This site is where underground cables will come to shore, bringing the electricity generated out at sea into the grid.

“Securing the shore crossing site locks in a critical piece of the project’s infrastructure and reinforces our long-term commitment to Gippsland,” Mr Rattray said.

“This is a huge step forward, recognising the positive relationships we’ve built with landholders over time, which we’ll continue to prioritise through the next steps of development.”

Last month, the federal government renewed Major Project Status for Star of the South. The decision means the project will continue to receive tailored support from the Major Projects Facilitation Agency for another three years, including assistance navigating regulatory approvals.

“These milestones show that Australia’s offshore wind industry is no longer an idea on the horizon – it’s moving from concept to reality and Star of the South is leading the way,” Mr Rattray said.

“No matter which way you look at it, any realistic scenario for a secure, reliable energy future has offshore wind in the mix.”

Star of the South is an up to 2.2 GW offshore wind energy project with the potential to power 1.2 million homes across 30 years of operations, directly invest $7 billion into the Australian economy and create 6000 Australian jobs, mainly in construction, over the project’s life.

The project has been under development since 2017. It was granted an exploration licence in 2019 and a feasibility licence in 2024 to explore the potential for offshore wind in Bass Strait off the Gippsland coast.

All initial feasibility studies have been completed, confirming that Star of the South is suitably located, technically feasible and able to make a significant contribution to energy supply and emissions reduction, the company says.

Completed feasibility studies include wind resource monitoring between 2019 and 2022, geophysical seabed surveys in 2020, geotechnical seabed surveys in 2023 and marine and land-based environment and cultural heritage surveys between 2020 and 2024. Star of the South has also undertaken detailed supply chain and workforce studies and extensive community consultation.

If successful in securing all necessary approvals, construction is targeted later this decade to support the National Electricity Market and Victoria’s energy transition with the closure of Yallourn power station scheduled for 2028 and Loy Yang A for 2035. Star of the South’s progress comes after the Blue Mackerel Offshore Wind Project was awarded Major Project Status by the federal government, but three other offshore projects abandoned the process.

Blue Mackerel, located about 10 kilometres off the Gippsland coast between Seaspray and Woodside, has the potential to generate 1GG of power.

AGL, which owns Loy Yang A power station, gave up its licence for the proposed Gippsland Skies 2.5 gigawatt offshore wind project, citing poor economic prospects relative to other forms of renewables in its development portfolio. Developments backed by Blue Float Energy and German giant RWE handed back their licences earlier this year.

AGL’s pullback came less than a week after the state Auditor-General, Andrew Greaves, found Victoria would not meet its near-term offshore wind targets, prompting a call by Morwell Nationals MP, Martin Cameron, for the resignation of the Minister for Energy and Climate change, Lily D’Ambrosio.

Victoria has a target of 2GW of offshore wind generation by 2032, which aims to underpin its target of 95 per cent renewable energy by 2035, when Loy Yang A is scheduled to close. Yallourn W closes in 2028, while Loy Yang B has an open-ended closure date.