A mayor says it is “disgusting” that the federal government is placing wind turbines on his community’s beautiful beaches without consulting locals and warned they could be an eyesore.
Sutherland County Mayor Carmelo Pesce is writing to the Albanese Government to seek clarification on the proposed wind turbines and how visible they will be from the coast of his county south of Sydney.
After the story broke on Sydney radio station 2GB last week, federal Climate Change Minister Chris Bowen confirmed the creation of the zone in Wollongong, 93 kilometers south of Sydney, on Saturday the morning.
However, Clr Pesce says the wind farm’s declared area “will cover a huge 1,022 square kilometers and will be around 20 kilometers offshore, stretching from Wombarra to Kiama” and will have around 300 turbines each of more than 280 meters high.
Sutherland Shire Council voted unanimously on Monday night to authorize the mayor to write to Mr Bowen and local Cook Liberal MP Simon Kennedy, seeking clarification on the size and visibility of the wind turbines.
Despite Bowen claiming the federal government had taken into account “community concerns” about the project, Clr Pesce said he had not been told anything.
“We haven’t had any consultation, there hasn’t been any consultation to the council or the community,” Clr Pesce told 2GB interview host Mark Levy.
Residents in the Sutherland Shire area of Sydney’s south are concerned the proposed wind turbines will ruin the view from Cronulla Beach.
‘Someone needs to let us know if they are proposing this, this is a big change in our area.
“We have one of the most beautiful beaches in all of Australia… just to leave it without even telling us – it’s disgusting if that’s the case.”
“First you have to consult with the community and then discuss whether it is appropriate for our area.”
Clr Pesce said that when news of the 2GB project broke, the story quickly went viral on social media with his constituents asking: “Is this true?” How bad will this be?
He asked why the locals had been left in the dark.
‘What are you hiding?’ she asked.
“That’s the worrying part.”
Clr Pesce told local newspaper the St George and Sutherland Shire Leader that the turbines would be huge.
“To put this into perspective, the blades alone are longer than a football field, and these turbines will rise above the waves twice the height of the Sydney Harbour Bridge,” he said.
Sutherland Shire Mayor Carmelo Pesce writes to Albanese Government seeking clarification on proposed wind turbines
“Experts estimate that these turbines will be visible up to 45 kilometers offshore from our beaches and up to 100 kilometers from higher points on a clear day.”
On Saturday, Bowen said the government had taken community concerns into account to reduce the size of the area by a third of the original proposal.
The declared zone, which is the fourth in Australia, “excludes significant environmental areas”, including the migration and breeding zone of the southern right whale, and an area designed to protect the population of little penguins.
‘This is important for renewable energies, important for employment. But this is also a balanced statement,” said Mr Bowen.
‘We have heard the concerns of the community. Many, many submissions, many concerns raised. We have looked at legitimate issues, legitimate concerns that have been raised on behalf of the community.
“We have eliminated misinformation and disinformation. And I have declared an area smaller than originally proposed and further from the coast.”
Following public consultation, the turbines will be located 20 kilometers from the coast instead of the 10 kilometers originally proposed.
The proposed 300 offshore wind turbines will each be more than 280 meters tall, Sutherland Shire Mayor Carmelo Pesce said.
Climate Council head of policy and advocacy Jennifer Rayner said the Illawarra region, long a manufacturing powerhouse, would continue to prosper for generations with clean, affordable energy produced in the region.
“Offshore wind will be an important part of Australia’s clean energy network because it provides reliable and consistent renewable energy 24 hours a day,” Dr Rayner said.
‘This is one of the important ways we will provide power to Australia as our old and unreliable coal generators close.
“Federal and state governments must work together to quickly overcome obstacles that are holding back the implementation of onshore wind projects that already have the support of communities and investors.”
