Status
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Background
VIC Offshore Windfarm Pty Ltd, a subsidiary of Australis Energy Ltd, is proposing to develop the Victorian (VIC) Offshore Wind Farm project approximately 5.5 km off the coast of Portland.
The project comprises:
- an offshore wind farm in Discovery Bay near the coast of Portland
- supporting electricity transmission 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 are:
- Offshore wind assets consisting of up to 62 wind turbines and a network of buried or mechanically protected subsea cables.
- An offshore substation platform installed on foundations and buried or mechanically protected subsea cables.
- A landfall site with a transition joint pit connecting the marine cables from the offshore substation to the onshore cables that will run to an onshore substation.
- An onshore substation, which may include further transformers.
- A new transmission line supplying energy generated from windfarm to the National Electricity Market, with additional equipment as required,
- which may include battery storage for fast frequency response to provide stability to the grid.
- Modifications to existing ports and harbour to support project construction and operations.
The project is intended to provide generation capacity of up to 495 MW.
EES preparation
Technical reference group
The Department has convened an inter-agency technical reference group to advise the proponent and the department, as appropriate, on scoping and adequacy of the EES studies during the preparation of the EES, as well as coordination with statutory approval processes.
The government organisations represented on the technical reference group are:
- DTP
- DEECA
- EPA Victoria
- First Peoples – State Relations
- Glenelg Hopkins Catchment Management Authority
- Glenelg Shire Council
- Gunditj Mirring Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation
- Heritage Victoria
- Parks Victoria
- Victorian Fisheries Authority
Technical reference group representatives are supported by internal experts on specific aspects of the EES studies.
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 on public exhibition from 18 July until 5 August 2022.
After considering public submissions on the draft scoping requirements, the Minister for Planning issued final scoping requirements in September 2022.
Minister's decision on referral
On 1 August 2021 the Minister for Planning required VIC Offshore Windfarm Pty Ltd to prepare an EES under the Environment Effects Act 1978 to assess the potential environmental effects of the project.
Project contact
If you have any questions or feedback, please get in touch via the contact details below.
EES process queries:
Impact Assessment Unit
☎ Phone: (03) 8622 7633
✉ Email: environment.assessment@delwp.vic.gov.au
Page last updated: 13/02/24