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Legislative Council - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2023-08-30 Daily Xml
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Motions

Southern Ocean Wind Farm

The Hon. C. BONAROS (16:33): I move:

That this council—

1. Expresses its concern over the extension of the proposed Southern Ocean offshore wind zone off the coast of South Australia following the consultation announcement made by federal Minister for Climate Change and Energy, the Hon. Chris Bowen MP, on 27 June 2023.

2. Notes offshore wind developer BlueFloat Energy has already lodged plans for a 77-turbine wind farm off the coast of Port MacDonnell, South Australia’s most southerly town.

3. Recognises the potential for more wind farms should the proposed zone be proclaimed, with no benefit to South Australia.

4. Expresses its concern at the sheer size and footprint of each wind turbine which measures up to 350 metres above sea level and requires about 700 to 1,000 tonnes of concrete and steel to be fixed to the ocean floor.

5. Expresses its concern about the destruction of critical habitat and migrating seabirds and mammals.

6. Notes the proposed BlueFloat Energy wind farm:

(a) will provide no net energy benefit to South Australians;

(b) will result in very few jobs for South Australians;

(c) will exclude recreational and commercial fishing boats from important fishing areas; and

(d) has the potential to decimate Port MacDonnell’s fishing and summer tourism industries and cause extensive job and business losses in those industries.

7. Acknowledges the southern zone rock lobster fishery of South Australia generates more than $250 million of economic activity annually and supports at least 1,200 jobs.

8. Recognises the proposed zone exacerbates the stress and anxiety the rock lobster industry has endured in recent years due to trade issues with China.

9. Recognises the overwhelming concern of the Port MacDonnell community that the proposal threatens to wipe out the township and create long-term uncertainty for individuals and businesses.

10. Calls on the Premier and the Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development to register South Australia’s objection to the wind farm zone encroaching past the Victorian border and advocate this in the strongest possible terms.

11. Calls on the Premier and the Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development to personally meet with the federal Minister for Climate Change and Energy to convey this message.

I move this motion in response to a proposal, which defies all logic, for a 5,100 square metre offshore wind zone from Warrnambool in Victoria to north-west of Port MacDonnell in South Australia's South-East. I cannot think of a single person that I have spoken to so far who has not warned of the potential to wipe out the region's $187-odd million rock lobster industry, threaten hundreds of jobs, and completely decimate a very important and pristine environmental area.

Before I proceed to try to share with members some of the issues that have been raised firsthand, I will say this—maybe she took the wind from under my wings yesterday—we heard yesterday that the government has made an announcement, an announcement that was tabled in this place yesterday. It is a very welcome announcement in terms of letting us know that they will be opposing the wind farm proposal but, frankly—and I hear the interjections—what I am about to describe is important because what we do not want and what we would hate to think is that what our Premier or our Minister for Primary Industries and the regions or our Minister for Environment would do, is slap out a media release, put out a submission and think, 'Job done, there's nothing else for us to do here,' because there is absolutely plenty to do here.

We know that when our Premier wants to flex his muscle federally and get results, he absolutely does and he does not hesitate in doing so. The call really is for him to do this on behalf of the local residents in Port MacDonnell in relation to this proposal. A submission, in and of itself, does not cut the mustard in this instance. It is a very welcome move, but it is not enough in terms of the advocacy that our state government can play.

We know that there are commitments and there are commitments, and we know that the government can choose to use a soft voice or a very, very loud voice. I am sure that the voice in Victoria in favour of this proposal is extraordinarily loud by their Premier, but we await to see the same from our Premier and, indeed, the Labor government here.

The threat to Port MacDonnell is immeasurable. I think the first thing that needs to be made clear to everybody is that there is going to be a zone declared for wind farms. The question is: where will that zone be and will it creep into South Australian waters? If it does creep into South Australian waters, what are going to be the impacts for Port MacDonnell, for areas surrounding Port MacDonnell and for our economy more broadly.

The motion calls for the Premier and the Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development to eyeball the federal Minister for Climate Change and Energy, the Hon. Chris Bowen, who will ultimately have the last say over the proposal, and make it clear, unequivocally clear, that this will not happen in our backyard. There is an opportunity even today, I think, with the visiting Prime Minister in Adelaide, to pull him aside and have those very same discussions, and let him know how seriously the state government takes this issue which we know will absolutely decimate one of our most pristine townships.

In order to understand the absolute absurdity of the proposal, it is important to understand the multifaceted impact it would have on the local community and beyond. In June this year Minister Bowen formally announced consultation on the proposed Southern Ocean offshore wind zone. That proposed zone, as I said, stretches from Warrnambool in Victoria to Port MacDonnell. In a sign of things to come, offshore wind developer BlueFloat Energy has already lodged plans for a 77-turbine wind farm off the coast of Port MacDonnell. This threatens to be one of a number of proposals which could threaten the region for many years to come.

Once that zone is declared, it opens the floodgates. There can be any number of similar proposals made for a wind farm. It ties that community up in knots and uncertainty for years and years to come. For those of you who are not familiar with Port MacDonnell, I will paint this picture—and this is for the benefit of everybody, of course, except the Hon. Clare Scriven, Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, for whom Port MacDonnell requires no introduction at all. We are lucky enough to have a Port MacDonnell local resident right here in this chamber, and a minister at that.

At the time of her elevation to state cabinet following last year's election win by Labor, the local media, The Border Watch, labelled her 'Our First Lady'. That is how important it was for them to have a minister of a Labor government in their electorate. She in turn told them:

It is wonderful that the South East will have a Cabinet Minister to make sure the local needs of the region, and all other regions are constantly being considered by the Cabinet.

If ever there was an opportunity for the minister to do just that, it is right now, literally in her backyard.

Port MacDonnell, as I said, is South Australia's most southerly town. Its population was 660 at last count, made up of 193 families. That figure does fluctuate. I have heard figures when I was down there of about 1,000. During tourist season it is likely to double, but we are talking a couple of hundred families, which does grow in the summer months. According to the 2021 Census, the biggest industry of employment is rock lobster and crab potting, followed by beef cattle farming.

The council sign at the entrance reads: 'Welcome to Port MacDonnell, South Australia's rock lobster capital', and nearby an even bigger sign lists Port MacDonnell attractions as: Australia's southern rock lobster capital; SA's southern-most point; waterfront precinct; maritime museum; Dingley Dell.

The area was settled in the 1850s as a port close to the growing farming settlements around Mount Gambier. Some might even be interested to know that our very own St Mary MacKillop began her journey by sea to Adelaide at the Port MacDonnell jetty, after arriving from Penola by horse and cart. That is the history of Port MacDonnell. It is home to the southern zone rock lobster fishery of SA, a fishery that generates over a quarter of a billion dollars to the state's economy annually. It is home to an industry that has the capital value of about $1.5 billion to $2 billion.

Port MacDonnell is one of the most productive rock lobster fishing grounds in Australia. It is also home to some of the most pristine waters in the nation. The industry employs well over 1,000 South Australians, and I might pause here to remind everyone of the challenges that that particular industry has faced in recent times, and is now facing with this proposal.

Not only was it hit by COVID, and did not have the benefit of many of the onshore payments and the like that other employers had, but adding to that crisis were of course the significant trade restrictions imposed by China. I cannot think of another industry who overnight basically were brought to their knees because 95 per cent of their export was ceased, and the flow-on effects that that had for that industry. It has been three tremendously difficult years for the rock lobster industry in South Australia, and indeed across Australia.

We have felt the brunt of that here in SA, and so this is just another whack for this industry. I know that they are doing their level best. In fact, I know the Premier is doing his level best. I know that Minister Farrell and Minister Wong are doing their level best to overcome those trade restrictions. We know that the Premier is due very shortly to travel to China, and one of the key issues that he will be discussing with the Chinese government is the rock lobster trade and the lifting of those restrictions. It is against that backdrop that we have Minister Bowen about to declare a position on a zone which impacts one of our most productive rock lobster areas in the nation.

I think it is important to say this and to make this clear: the rock lobster industry should not be defined by the price of a lobster on a plate. I think that is a huge misconception and one that often gets bandied about in this place, certainly in discussions and political discussions that I have: 'They're just rock lobster fishers, they're all loaded, they can afford another hit.' Nothing could be further from the truth than those sorts of statements.

The backbone of that industry is made up literally of the blood, sweat and tears of hardworking people. These are people who take on extreme risk, both physically and financially. They work hard to buy boats and equipment and brave harsh ocean conditions enough I think to make most of us physically ill. It is an extraordinarily gruelling and tough job, and I do not think many of us would be cut out to do it.

I was privileged enough to attend one of their regular industry meetings at Port MacDonnell Football Club last week, and I can tell you that genuine concern and worry was written on every person's face in that room. They are worried about their futures. They are worried about their kids' futures. They are worried about what will happen when the bank gets wind of what is happening. They are worried that if they are tied into uncertainty for years to come and there is a need to go back to the bank, they may not qualify for payments. They are worried that businesses will close.

The knock-on effects of this proposal across the town have the potential to literally wipe it from the map. As one said to me, 'Who's going to go and order a new Toyota now?' Without such a vital industry in Port MacDonnell and the surrounds, the future of that town is uncertain, and when it comes to knock-on effects, we know it is not just Port MacDonnell. If it was just Port MacDonnell, then Mount Gambier would not have moved a motion in its council to oppose this.

It is not just the rock lobster industry, though, that is in the firing line. It is other commercial fishers who rely on the annual bluefin tuna migration through their pristine waters. It is the recreational fishers, many of whom regularly flock to the region as tourists and inject considerable life into the local economy. It is the baker, it is the supermarket, it is the barber, it is the hotel, it is every local business in Port MacDonnell and beyond that is impacted by this proposal, and for what?

From where we sit, there is absolutely zero benefit to South Australia, and that is the most remarkable part about this proposal. It will not keep our lights on; in fact, we will not benefit from one single measure that this proposal is aimed at achieving. All the energy generated will feed directly into Victoria's electricity grid. It will all go back to Portland and it will benefit Victorians. You betcha, the Premier over there is rubbing his hands in glee that this is creeping over to South Australian waters and that his state is going to benefit immensely over there. There is a smelter in Portland that is banking on this wind zone farm. Victoria is happy and is looking forward to receiving the end results of this project and all the jobs that will flow from it.

We have already seen an example of what is to come should the proposed offshore wind zone be allowed to creep into South Australia. BlueFloat Energy has already lodged plans for that huge 77-turbine wind farm off the coast of Port MacDonnell that I mentioned. Just to put things into perspective—and I think this is important; I have done it before in this place—each wind turbine that we are talking about will be up to 190 to 250 metres above sea level. There will be 77 of them 190 metres above sea level. That is about the same height as Westpac House, I think, across the road.

The wingspan, once again, of the turbine blades will be 250 metres in diameter. That is 60 metres longer than Adelaide Oval is long. To secure each wind turbine into the ground, each wind turbine will require 700 to 1,000 tonnes of cement and steel in those pristine waters of Port MacDonnell. Once it is poured into that seabed, one of our most pristine waters, it will be there forever.

Conservationists are up in arms. I met with many of them over in Mount Gambier and Port MacDonnell. I am, of course, really keen to know what my friends in the Greens are going to do in relation to this motion because the very purpose of renewable energy is to protect our assets, not decimate them. This proposal will absolutely decimate some of our most valuable South Australian assets. It reminds you of the great Joni Mitchell song about paving paradise to put up a parking lot.

I will tell you where a renewable project will not result in good. It might do so in the Spencer Gulf, but I will tell you where it will not result in jobs. I will tell you where it will not result in a great place to be and I will tell you that in this instance if we build it, it will not build us. It will absolutely destroy Port MacDonnell.

The Hon. J.E. Hanson: That was my quote.

The Hon. C. BONAROS: Yes, I stole it. It will be thrown back to see a horizon dotted with wind turbines and decimate a township in the process, and the environmental travesty of this proposal cannot be underestimated.

Literally, it will destroy critical habitat. It will kill migrating sea birds like the albatross. The potential for endangered southern right and blue whales is unknown but I do not need to be a marine biologist for you to tell me even the sound and vibration of wind turbines will interfere with these sensitive creatures. As the minister in this place pointed out yesterday, it will be right in the path of the annual migration of bluefin tuna. It will fly in the face of everything else we have done in terms of renewables, conservation, marine parks and sanctuary zones in this jurisdiction.

I have to be honest: I have only just learnt about the Bonney Upwelling. Bluewhalestudy.org describes it as the following, and this is an important consideration I know of this government in terms of this proposal:

…upwellings are powerhouses of nutrient cycling.

Driven by wind, the process of upwelling draws deep, nutrient-rich cold water upwards towards the ocean's surface replacing the warmer, usually nutrient-depleted, surface water.

The nutrients in upwelled water are derived from marine organisms…dying and sinking to the ocean floor.

Those nutrients are most abundant near coasts and river outlets but may be conveyed by currents great distances along the ocean floor, to be upwelled far from their source.

When upwelled nutrients meet sunlight near the surface, minute phytoplankton…'bloom', turning the ocean green and providing a vital food source for a range of animals from krill…to small schooling fish.

These feed larger animals including rock lobsters, giant crabs, fish…squid, seabirds, seals, dolphins and whales.

Humans too are part of this complex food web, commercially fishing both krill and the larger predators that feed on it.

It goes on to describe the importance of that process and the significance of the Bonney Upwelling.

The community groups in Port MacDonnell and surrounding areas, and in particular Southern Coast Ocean Care, established themselves in the face of this looming threat. I, for one—and I know many people from the regions—am extremely thankful that they did and for their advocacy to date. It is very much a grassroots campaign. They have instigated petitions and they have done their absolute level best to make sure that this does not happen in their town.

I think the bleak reality is that we know that if this goes ahead, tourists are going to leave, fishers are going to be left in a really bad position, fish factories will close their doors as will the food outlets and shops, and you can forget about having a local doctor or a mechanic, and the next generation will absolutely follow. Banks certainly will not finance any new ventures and might even start calling in debt.

I wonder whether anyone is considering what the threat of this proposal is doing for the mental health of that community, because that is one of the issues that was really drummed into me while I was there as to the long-term impacts. Who is going to pick up the pieces if Minister Bowen does not reduce the size of that proposal? The two local councils—the Port MacDonnell council and the Mount Gambier council—have both introduced and carried motions on behalf of their communities opposing the new offshore wind zone.

We have commercial fishers, we have southern rock lobsters and we have recreational fishers SA, all making the strongest of strong cases against this proposal. I have not come across a single person who has said that this is a good idea for South Australia, and I do not think the government has come across one because I do not think they would have come out with that submission to Minister Bowen if they had. I seek leave to table the district council resolution, which was carried on 17 July, and also the Mount Gambier ordinary council minutes dated 15 August 2023, pages 9 and 10, which refer to the offshore wind zones proposal.

Leave granted.

The Hon. C. BONAROS: I have met with the councillors from both councils. I have met with the Mayor of Grant council, Kylie Boston, and I had the opportunity to meet the Mayor of Mount Gambier council, Lynette Martin OAM, and some delegates from the council. There is absolutely no question that they are on the same page. I am also aware that the local member in the other place has been strongly advocating for his community too, and I think is delighted to see something is finally being done in the South Australian parliament to address this issue. He is also helping those local communities in every way possible, and I have to say that I heard only the best things said about the level of advocacy he has provided.

There were two public consultation sessions in the region, and I think this is important to note. I do not know who from government attended them, but they were held by the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, first in Mount Gambier and then in Port MacDonnell. I think about 550-odd people were in attendance at Port MacDonnell, and there was no support for this proposal. I think the same can be said for the proposal in Mount Gambier.

What we need to focus on—and I have only spoken very briefly about the environmental impacts—in the press release (and I will leave members to read that) there was quite a lot of detail about the environmental impacts. Minister Close and Minister Scriven have outlined in detail what they are concerned about, the proximity to marine parks and sanctuary zones, and the like.

I want to reflect on one thing I heard Minister Scriven say this morning. We might be having this discussion here, and it is a federal issue, but I note that there is also a government bill out for consultation now, the Hydrogen and Renewable Energy Bill. Minister Scriven was asked this morning whether in South Australia we support having offshore wind farms. To paraphrase what she said, I think she gave priority to the waters and the fishing activities that take place in those waters.

What I can glean from this proposal going out is that there is absolutely nothing that would prevent, as I can see it—and I stand to be corrected—a wind farm proposal similar to what we are discussing now being proposed within South Australian waters and the impacts that would have on any town. The reason I raise that is because we know, in South Australia, that our wind farm legislation is outdated, it has not kept pace with technology and infrastructure, and it needs reviewing.

Whether that is the piece of legislation it occurs under, or whether we need a separate piece of legislation, the bottom line is that, once and for all, we need to make sure that our laws around wind farms are up to speed with emerging technologies, with 250-metre tall wind farms that are being proposed across the country, in fact.

I will say this: it is very easy for South Australia just to put in a submission and say, 'Job done.' It is even more easy for Minister Bowen, without additional pressure, to say, 'My only job here is to declare a zone. It's not my job to do anything other than to declare a zone, and once I have done that, I pass it on to someone else, but my job is done.' We will wait to see if that stacks up, but we might do so without accounting for all of the impacts that will be had for South Australia in declaring that zone. That is what you do when you operate in silos. That is what you do when you do not take into account the broader implications of a proposal. From where I sit, and from where the local residents of Port MacDonnell sit, that is socially irresponsible and it is politically irresponsible.

The concerns of those residents who will be caught up in this mess for years to come and will continue to suffer from anxiety for years to come, because of the opening of Pandora's box in terms of the declaration of the zone and more proposals being put forward, cannot be stressed enough. The one thing we absolutely know is that Minister Bowen will declare a zone. What we do not know is whether it will creep into South Australian borders.

I am going to say it one more time: if it creeps into South Australian borders, it will completely decimate Port MacDonnell. I am absolutely calling on the government—and indeed every member in this place, my friends in the Greens, and the conservation sector—to tell us what they actually think about this proposal, for one, but to do their level best in terms of their advocacy to Minister Bowen to ensure that is not the outcome that is going to be faced by Port MacDonnell residents.

I will say it again: if this proposal was in the Spencer Gulf or if it was somewhere more visible—if it was happening down at Glenelg—we would have protests on the street over this sort of proposal by now. But it is very much a small community town that is very much out of sight and, in many instances, out of mind. The ramifications for that town, and the economic impact on South Australia as a whole, simply cannot be understated. I do not know how much more I can stress that. I do not know how much more I can stress the environmental impacts, let alone the fishing impacts, that this proposal will have on our most pristine waters.

I am urging absolutely everyone in this place to consider this motion favourably. Like I said to every conservationist, every fisher and every local I met in Port MacDonnell: if you have to chase around your members of government to make sure that they are doing more, and the opposition and us to make sure that we are doing more to apply that pressure federally to make sure that border does not creep over into South Australia, then get it done—because if those messages are not heard loud and clear, we absolutely know what the outcome will be. With those words, I thank members for their indulgence and I commend the motion to honourable members.

Debate adjourned on motion of Hon. I.K. Hunter.

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