Australia’s first offshore wind zone declared

Today, the Minister for Climate Change and Energy (the Minister) declared an area in the Bass Strait off the coast of Gippsland, Victoria as being suitable for offshore renewable energy. The declared area covers approximately 15,000 square kilometres and runs offshore from Lakes Entrance in the east, to south of Wilsons Promontory in the west. A map of the declared area is available here: Area in Bass Strait off Gippsland declared suitable for offshore renewable energy - DCCEEW

Feasibility licence applications for offshore wind projects in the Gippsland area will open soon. The Offshore Infrastructure Registrar will lead assessment of all applications against criteria set out in the Offshore Electricity Infrastructure Act 2021 and associated Regulations, and make recommendations to the Minister.

Other regions being considered for future offshore wind energy projects are the Pacific Ocean regions off the Hunter and Illawarra in NSW, the Southern Ocean region off Portland in Victoria, the Bass Straight region off Northern Tasmania, and the Indian Ocean region off Perth/Bunbury in WA.

For more information visit: dcceew.gov.au.