Opposition energy minister says community left behind on offshore wind farm zone consultation

The Federal Opposition’s shadow climate change and energy minister has claimed the Federal Government has failed to bring the local community along with them on the offshore wind farm proposed off Geographe Bay. Ted O’Brien — in Bunbury for the Energy Roundtable Forum on Wednesday — said he had heard from community members who were dissatisfied with the consultation process. “The discussions I’ve had, not just at this forum, but also around the streets, the vast majority of people feel as though the Albanese Government has ignored their voices when it comes to the offshore wind zone,” he said. While he said renewables would play a role in the region’s energy future, better consultation was needed. “There’s no doubt we need a balanced energy mix, and that’s renewables, it’s gas, and as coal retires, it’ll be nuclear,” he said. “But when it comes to any form of electricity generation, it has to come with a social licence. “What we have seen with the way the Government has gone about offshore wind zones is it has not carried local communities. If you fail to carry a local community, then you’re going to run into trouble.” The Federal Government announced a proposed 7674sqkm wind farm area spanning from Dawesville to Dunsborough in February. Consultation ran through to May which featured several community engagement sessions. Those sessions were met with anger, and concerns their views were not being considered. Speaking to the Times on Wednesday morning, after a visit to the South West, Assistant Climate Change and Energy Minister Josh Wilson said legitimate concerns would be heard. “All the concerns and all the input through these consultation processes are taken very seriously,” he said. “It’s understandable that any community considering a new form of technology will want to examine that proposal.” The Fremantle MP said while consultation was important, it was also crucial to remain in “reality”. “I do make the point that when we consider these kinds of change it’s important we do so on the basis of the factual reality rather than being concerned about things that, frankly, are never going to occur,” he said. “In this case, when we talk about offshore wind, the starting point is to recognise that the zones that have been considered around Australia are generally 20km plus off the coast. “They are not proximate to our coastal communities in the way that some people seem to want to misrepresent.”