Recfishwest urges fishers to have say on Senate inquiry into ‘confusing’ offshore wind farm consultation

The peak advocacy body for the recreational fishers in Western Australia is calling on South West anglers to make their voices heard about the Federal Government’s offshore wind farm consultation process. Submissions are open for a Senate inquiry investigating how the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water conducted public consultation for the zones proposed around the country, including one in Geographe Bay. Recfishwest is calling on the public to make submissions before the August 30 deadline, highlighting complaints the format of meetings held in Bunbury, Busselton and other locations across the region were “inaccessible and confusing”. Chief executive Andrew Rowland said there were numerous problems with the process. “The offshore wind consultation process was a complete failure,” he said. “The proposed area is important for fishing, however, basic questions relating to environmental and social impacts were left unanswered. “During the consultation process, the Commonwealth Government was seen to be promoting offshore wind rather than addressing community concerns and fears remain that key fish habitats, including dhufish spawning ground, could be destroyed and fishers excluded from large areas of the ocean.” Dr Rowland said the organisation welcomed the opportunity for the region’s anglers to “shine a light” on how the consultations have been run so far. “We encourage anyone who has a stake in Geographe Bay to make a submission to the inquiry,” he said. “Recfishwest will certainly be making a submission on behalf of our members reflecting the things that we have seen and heard.” The organisation has already expressed its opposition to wind farms being built in waters shallower than 200m below sea level after the results of a survey for anglers highlighted a number of fishing grounds were in the proposed zone. Recfishwest also previously called for the Federal Government to clarify if exclusion zones would apply around offshore wind turbines.