Project update - December 2022
19 December 2022
Gippsland the first area declared for offshore renewables
Today, Bass Strait off the Gippsland coast was declared an offshore renewable energy zone by the Climate Change and Energy Minister.
This puts Gippsland on course to secure its place as the home of offshore wind in Australia - and to benefit from the opportunities this will bring.
Offshore wind projects will soon be able to apply for a 'Feasibility Licence' to investigate the area. A further 'Commercial Licence' is then needed to proceed to construction.
With strong winds, existing grid infrastructure and a skilled workforce, Gippsland is ideally positioned to capitalise on jobs and investment offshore wind will bring to the region.
Read our media release
Read the Government media release
Find out more about the declared area
The revised offshore renewable energy zone announced today
Major Project Status
Star of the South has become the first offshore wind project to receive Major Project Status from the Australian Government.
This acknowledges the project’s contribution to the economy, energy and climate goals.
It’ll mean a greater focus on the coordination of state and federal approvals needed for the project to progress.
This makes us one of around 25 projects across the country to be formally recognised with Major Project Status.
Read our media release to find out more.
Community Advisory Group update
Our Community Advisory Group recently wrapped up for the year with a meeting at Woodside Hall and a fantastic meal at the Woodside Beach Hotel.
Over the course of this year, the group has gone on a site visit and held six meetings, discussing:
Local industry development
Fishing
Ports for construction and operations
Marine studies
The project timeline and challenges
Social impact assessment
Transmission and grid connection
Seabed studies
We’ve said goodbye to two group members this year – Mary-Lou and Caleb – who decided to pass the baton after almost two years volunteering their time and knowledge. Thank you both so much for your contributions.
This month we welcomed a new member from Foster – Anne. Welcome Anne, it’s great to have you on board.
Anne is keen to learn all she can about the project and sees the Community Advisory Group as a good forum to discuss what's happening in her community and raise local feedback.
You can find information about CAG members and read meeting minutes on our website.
The Community Advisory Group celebrated the end of the year at the Woodside Beach Hotel
Meet Australia’s first offshore wind HSE Manager
We'd like to introduce Paul, our new Health, Safety and Environment Manager.
After spending the first 15 years of his working life as a paramedic and seeing people hurt in preventable incidents, Paul decided to make a move into safety, where he can help stop incidents happening in the first place.
Since then, he's been keeping people safe at work on oil and gas and renewable energy projects.
Paul, and the rest of us at Star of the South, take safety very seriously. Even at this early stage it's the top priority for everything we do. This will only become more important should the project proceed to construction.
What a year for offshore wind in Australia
We’ve seen the industry take some big steps in the last 12 months - moving from 'if' to 'when' to 'now'. 2022 has been a year of real progress.
Victoria set ambitious offshore wind targets of 2GW by 2032, 4GW by 2035 and 9GW by 2040 in March.
A plan for achieving these targets, the 'Offshore Wind Implementation Statement', was released in October - with more to come in 2023.
The Australian Government consulted on the first offshore renewable energy zone off the Gippsland coast in August - October, and formally declared it in December.
Offshore wind is set to play an important role in our future energy mix, helping keep the lights on and prices down as we make the shift to a renewable energy system.
Keep following us along the journey and get in touch if you have any questions.
Wishing you a safe and happy Christmas and new year
From all of us at Star of the South, we wish you a wonderful Christmas spent with family and friends and a happy and safe new year.
Thank you for your interest in the project this year. We’re excited for another big year ahead, working to bring offshore wind energy, jobs and investment to Gippsland.
We look forward to connecting with you in 2023.
Our Gippsland office will be closed over the break and will reopen on Tuesday 3 January.
