Overview
Background
The Star of the South Offshore Wind Farm Project comprises an:
- Offshore wind farm.
- Supporting electricity transmissions assets - required to transfer energy generated by the wind farm to the existing electricity transmission network.
- Modifications to ports and harbours - required to support the construction and operation of the wind farm.
The key components of the project
- Offshore wind assets consisting of up to 200 wind turbines mounted on towers founded in the seabed and a network of buried or mechanically protected subsea cables. These assets would be within Commonwealth jurisdiction as they are beyond 3 nautical miles from the coast of Victoria.
- Offshore substation platforms installed on foundations and up to 13 buried or mechanically protected subsea cables. The substations would be within Commonwealth jurisdiction with the cables originating within Commonwealth jurisdiction and traversing into Victorian jurisdiction.
- Onshore underground or combined underground/overhead powerlines and up to four substations connecting the wind farm to the National Electricity Market. These assets would be within Victorian jurisdiction.
- Modifications to existing ports and harbour to support project construction and operations. These assets would be within Victorian jurisdiction.
Process
Scoping Requirements
The scoping requirements set out the matters to be investigated and documented in the environment effects statement (EES).
Draft scoping requirements for this EES were placed on public exhibition from 7 July to 27 July 2021. After considering public submissions on the draft scoping requirements, the Minister for Planning approved final scoping requirements in August 2021.
Scoping requirements questions and answers (Q&As):
Consultation Plan
The proponent has prepared a communication and consultation plan for the EES, outlining the opportunities and approaches for its community engagement during the preparation of the EES. The plan was refined following advice from DELWP and the Technical Reference Group and is published on this web page. The consultation process may be adapted or modified to meet changing community needs and requirements.
Technical Reference Group
DELWP has convened an inter-agency Technical Reference Group at the request of the Minister for Planning to advise DELWP and the proponent on scoping and adequacy of the EES studies and documentation, as well as co-ordination of the EES process with other statutory processes for the project.
The organisations represented on the Technical Reference group are:
- Aboriginal Victoria
- Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment (Cwlth)
- DELWP
- Gunaikurnai Land and Waters Aboriginal Corporation
- Heritage Victoria
- Latrobe City Council
- Regional Roads Victoria
- South Gippsland Shire Council
- Wellington Shire Council
- West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority
Technical Reference Group representatives are supported by internal experts on specific aspects of the EES studies.
Minister's Decision
On 11 May 2020 the Minister for Planning required Star of the South Wind Farm Pty Ltd to prepare an EES under the Environment Effects Act 1978 to assess the potential environmental effects of the project.
More information
If you have any questions or feedback, please get in touch via the contact details below.
- Star of the South Offshore Wind Farm Project queries:
Star of the South Wind Farm Pty Ltd
☎ Phone: 1800 340 340
✉ Email: info@starofthesouth.com.au
- EES process queries:
Impact Assessment Unit
☎ Phone: (03) 9392 5503
✉ Email: environment.assessment@delwp.vic.gov.au
Documents
Scoping Requirements
- Final scoping requirements (PDF, 587.6 KB) or (DOCX, 1.0 MB)
- Scoping requirements Q&As (PDF, 154.3 KB) or (DOCX, 124.4 KB)
- Draft scoping requirements (PDF, 740.4 KB) or (DOCX, 876.5 KB)