The City of Mandurah is opposing a proposed offshore wind farm, raising concerns about potential environment impacts.
The city made a submission to the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water where it outlined “concerns relating to the proposed Offshore Wind Area” and called for it not to progress to the next stages.
In February, Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen proposed a 7674sq km area of ocean between Dawesville and Cape Naturaliste for an offshore wind farm, with public consultation occurring earlier this year.
In response to questions about the development by Councillor Ryan Burns at the April 23 council meeting, chief executive Casey Mihovilovich said the council’s elected members and city officers had a briefing on the proposal by the department on April 15.
Ms Mihovilovich said the city’s resulting submission asked Mr Bowen “not to proceed to the next step”, seeking further information to be provided to the public and more consultation to be undertaken.
“(The submission) requests that due to the limitations and insufficient information provided during the community consultation period that the minister does not make any decision and does not proceed to the next step,” she said.
“The city officers are requesting that critical information regarding the potential and perceived environmental impacts are provided to stakeholders and that the consultation be undertaken again with all information provided to the community before any area is declared suitable for an offshore wind area.”
When asked for more detail on their submission, a spokesperson said the city raised concerns about the “limitations” of the consultation process.
“As this is a Federal Government project, the city was not involved in undertaking the community consultation around the proposed wind farm,” the spokesperson said.
“However in the city’s own submission, concerns have been highlighted regarding the limitations with the consultation process and insufficient information provided as part of this, which should be effectively addressed before any decision is made by the Federal Minister and their department.
“If and when these issues have been addressed, the city has recommended that further consultation is carried out before any decisions around the area’s suitability for an offshore wind farm is made.”
The Government believes the earmarked area’s high winds make it ideal for wind turbines, with predictions it could generate up to 20 gigawatts of power, and create thousands of construction and ongoing jobs.
The proposed area is 41km offshore from Mandurah and 26km from Dawesville, according to the department.
The project has drawn criticism from WA Fishing Industry Council chief executive Darryl Hockey, who said building wind turbines in the suggested area would destroy reefs, fish habitat and restrict access to shipping lanes.
Canning MP Andrew Hastie has also been outspoken in his opposition to the development, which he said could cause “irreversible impacts on the future of our environment, local tourism and recreational activities, and the economy”.
Mr Hastie has also provided a submission to the department and a petition he started against the proposal has gained more than 10,000 signatures.
Public consultation closed on May 3 and Mr Bowen will now consider the city’s submission along with other public feedback, before making a decision.
If the area is declared suitable for an offshore wind farm, the next step will see developers invited to apply for feasibility licences.