Quick facts
Public consultation: 14 August 2023 to 15 November 2023
Proposed area maximum size: 1,461km2
Potential power generation: 4.2GW
Potential jobs: 2,500 jobs during construction and 1,250 ongoing jobs
Current status: Public consultation completed. Ministerial consideration of final area.
The proposed area
The Minister for Climate Change and Energy proposed an area in the Pacific Ocean off the Illawarra, New South Wales (NSW) for offshore renewable energy, including offshore wind on the 14 August 2023.
The proposed area covers 1,461km2 and extends offshore of Wombarra in the north to Kiama in the south.
Public consultation was planned to close on the 16 October 2023. The Minister extended consultation until 15 November 2023 to provide the community with additional time to make a submission to the public consultation process. This extended the consultation period to a total of 94 days.
Download
Variation to Notice of proposal to declare an area - Pacific Ocean off Illawarra region, NSW (PDF 383 KB)
Variation to Notice of proposal to declare an area - Pacific Ocean off Illawarra region, NSW (DOCX 2.13 MB)
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Map of proposed area
Choosing the area
The offshore wind industry is well established internationally and is now an emerging industry in Australia. See building an offshore wind industry.
The Illawarra area is one of 6 priority areas identified for offshore wind development in Australian Commonwealth waters. We consider several factors to identify regions that have potential to support an offshore wind industry.
The Illawarra region is well suited for offshore wind due to a range of factors including:
- strong, consistent winds
- strong grid connections associated with the Tallawarra Power Station and Port Kembla
- proximity to areas of high electricity demand
- potential to support infrastructure via Port Kembla.
There is also strong industry interest in developing projects in the area offshore of the Illawarra. The area is adjacent to the NSW Government’s proposed Illawarra Renewable Energy Zone.
The proposed area for public consultation was determined following consultation with Australian and NSW government agencies.
Public consultation
Consultation on potential offshore wind developments will occur at multiple stages of the regulatory process and continue throughout the life of any project that may ultimately be approved for construction. The community’s first opportunity to share their views is when an area is proposed for declaration.
The proposed Illawarra area opened for public consultation on 14 August 2023. Consultation was due to close on 16 October 2023.
The Minister extended the consultation for an additional 30 days until 15 November 2023. This provided the community with additional time to make a submission on the proposed area.
Information about the consultation was shared across a number of platforms, including on our website and social media channels. Paid promotion was undertaken in local newspapers and radio, and social media. A letterbox drop of 157,000 flyers to households in suburbs and towns near the proposed area has also been conducted.
Read more about the Proposed offshore wind area: Pacific Ocean off Illawarra region, NSW.
Information sessions
Community drop-in sessions were held across the Illawarra region in Bulli, Port Kembla, Wollongong, Shellharbour, Kiama and Gerringong from 18 September to 21 September 2023. Attendees were provided the opportunity to ask questions and discuss key issues. In person meetings with local government representatives and First Nation groups have also been conducted in the region.
Relevant local stakeholders were invited to participate in 5 online, industry specific sessions during the consultation period. These were held between 4 September and 14 September 2023 and were attended by groups including:
- commercial fishing
- recreational fishing
- tourism
- local business
- community and environment groups
- maritime industry.
The sessions covered the interaction of offshore renewable energy projects with specific local industries. Attendees were able to ask questions and provide informed feedback to the consultation process.
Ongoing consultation was undertaken with relevant Australian and NSW Government agencies that have policy and regulatory oversight over marine users and interests.
Wind turbine visualisations
The following images show what offshore wind turbines in the proposed Illawarra offshore wind area may look like. These images are based on offshore experiences and includes:
- Images depict a grid of turbines with 2km by 2km spacing
- The modelled turbines are based on the United States National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s 15MW offshore wind turbine reference model as well as the largest wind turbine on the market today.
- The reference turbines in the imagery have the following characteristics:
- Total height (tip height): 268m
- Hub height (height to turbine nacelle): 150m
- Blade length (radius of turbine): 118
- Minimum blade height above sea level: 30m
If an area is declared, any prospective developer that receives a feasibility licence will undertake a range of scientific studies to determine the optimal location, size and arrangement of turbines.
Prospective developers will also need to consult on the location and placement of any future turbines as part of their licence requirements. It is likely individual projects will differ from the visualisations shown.
Real-world visibility will be dependent on factors such as time of day, cloud cover, atmospheric conditions such as mist or haze, as well as the exact location, size, orientation and layout of turbines.
Source: Definition of the IEA Wind 15-Megawatt Offshore Reference Wind Turbine.
Image source: DCCEEW. Visualisation: Convergen.
Bulli Lookout
10km Image
Digital rendering of offshore wind turbines to illustrate how wind turbines would look 10km from shore. This is a digital rendering for illustrative purposes only. Actual wind turbine numbers and look may differ.
20km Image
Digital rendering of offshore wind turbines to illustrate how wind turbines would look 20km from shore. This is a digital rendering for illustrative purposes only. Actual wind turbine numbers and look may differ.
Lens: FE 4/24-105 G OSS (Focal Length: 24mm)
Camera Model: Sony A7IV
Sensor Size: Full frame (35.6 x 23.8 mm), Type: BSI-CMOS
Camera Height: 160cm
Time: 12:51, 18/10/23
GPS: 34°18'21.9294" S 150°54'19.2576" E
Bulli Beach
10km Image
Digital rendering of offshore wind turbines to illustrate how wind turbines would look 10km from shore. This is a digital rendering for illustrative purposes only. Actual wind turbine numbers and look may differ.
20km Image
Digital rendering of offshore wind turbines to illustrate how wind turbines would look 20km from shore. This is a digital rendering for illustrative purposes only. Actual wind turbine numbers and look may differ.
Lens: FE 4/24-105 G OSS (Focal Length: 50mm)
Camera Model: Sony A7IV
Sensor Size: Full frame (35.6 x 23.8 mm), Type: BSI-CMOS
Camera Height: 160cm
Time: 12:29, 18/10/23
GPS: 34°20'39.3071" S 150°55'19.4717" E
Next steps
Public consultation closed on 15 November 2023.
The Minister for Climate Change and Energy will consider public submissions to help inform his decision whether the proposed area is suitable for offshore wind development.
A summary of submissions and the consultation will be posted on the Illawarra consultation platform once decision is made regarding the proposed area.
The declaration of an offshore wind area is the first stage of the regulatory process. If the area is declared by the Minster for Climate Change and Energy, developers will then be invited to apply for feasibility licences. Read more about applying for feasibility licences.
Contact
Email: offshorerenewables@dcceew.gov.au