Community Consultation - Offshore Surveys

Written By Ingrid Huitema

Gippsland Skies is a proposed 2.5 GW offshore wind project located 30 kilometres off the South Gippsland coast which is in the early stages of development.  
 
Community engagement is an important part of the development process. That is why Gippsland Skies has organised consultation sessions in Gippsland this month to discuss the project’s proposed offshore marine surveys which includes early study of areas where turbines, offshore substations and offshore export cables may be located. The offshore survey program does not include assessment of onshore connection points or onshore transmission infrastructure.  

VicGrid is responsible for planning and developing the onshore transmission network infrastructure to support offshore wind in Victoria. VicGrid has currently only identified a potential connection hub near Giffard and has not identified any other proposed connection hubs or transmission corridors to support offshore wind in Gippsland.    

As required by both Federal and State legislation, Gippsland Skies must assess alternative designs for the full 2.5 GW offshore wind project including locations for turbines, offshore substations and various offshore export cable routes. Offshore studies seek to better understand the offshore environment only and are part of the early-stage, iterative development process. 

Selection of Gippsland Skies’ offshore export cable route will depend on the outcomes from VicGrid’s Victorian Transmission Plan and onshore connection to be determined by VicGrid in the future. 

Our team are keen to listen and learn about community concerns and share information with you in a coordinated and transparent way so we can work collaboratively to achieve long-term benefits for the Gippsland community. If you’d like to learn more about our project, the Gippsland Skies team will be at the following community consultation events and would welcome your feedback:  

  • Fish Creek – Thursday, 20 February, 4-6pm, Fish Creek Memorial Hall 

  • Port Albert – Wednesday, 12 March, 4-6pm, Port Albert Mechanics Institute 

  • Golden Beach – Thursday, 13 March, 4-6pm, Golden Beach Community Centre 

  • Sale – Saturday, 22 March, 10am-2pm, Nakunbalook, Sale Botanic Gardens 

  • Leongatha – Thursday, 27 March, 4-6pm, Leongatha Memorial Hall 

Ingrid Huitema
Next

Gippsland Skies Offshore Wind awarded Feasibility Licence for 2.5 GW offshore wind development off the coast of Victoria, Australia