Latest information on Proposed Offshore Wind Farms for NSW
The Hon Chris Bowen MP, Minister for Climate Change and Energy has proposed an area within Commonwealth waters in the Pacific Ocean off the Illawarra region of NSW for offshore renewable energy, particularly offshore wind.
​
The proposed Illawarra area:
-
The proposed Illawarra area covers 1,461 square kilometres
-
The turbines will be allowed 10km off Wollongong and Shellharbour and 30km off Kiama.
-
has the potential to generate up to 5 gigawatts of renewable wind energy, enough to power an estimated 3.4 million homes
-
Although it has the potential to generate up to 5 gigawatts of renewable wind energy, enough to power an estimated 3.4 million homes, there is enough evidence to demonstrate that it will have significant negative impact on the marine environment and life it supports.
​
​
Consultation on this proposed area is now open and we seek your feedback on the area and how offshore wind could share the area with other users and interests. Your feedback will help inform the Minister’s decision on whether the proposed area is suitable for offshore wind energy.
​
We encourage your feedback through a submission in our Have Your Say portal. Submissions close at 11:59 PM on 16 October 2023. For the Minister to consider your submission, it must be provided through the Consultation Hub by this deadline.
​
A number of supporting documents are available on the Have Your Say portal. These provide information on the offshore wind consultation and declaration process, as well additional information on the area.
​
There will be six community drop-in sessions in Bulli, Wollongong, Port Kembla, Shellharbour, Kiama and Gerringong where our team will be happy to discuss the proposed area and answer any questions you may have. There is no formal presentation at these sessions, they are designed to enable the community and other stakeholders to drop in at any time throughout the session time to have their questions answered.
Details of these sessions are below:
