Offshore Wind Blow for Hastings
The Committee for Frankston & Mornington Peninsula is disappointed with the Federal Government’s assessment of the proposed Victorian Renewable Energy Terminal (VRET) at the Port of Hastings.
We support the Victorian government’s commitment to overturn the federal veto and pursue offshore wind production in Victoria, with Hastings playing a key role as an assembly port.
Hastings is the most suitable location due to our substantial workforce and natural deep-water channels. The site itself is a highly disturbed site situated within an existing port zone between Esso’s Long Island Point and Bluescope Steel. This site has been earmarked for a suitable development for the best part of 70 years.
While previous proposals in Western Port – as recently as 2019 – have not met the basic expectations of our community, the establishment of the Victorian Renewable Energy Terminal has received support from the community leaders, industry, and stakeholder groups. This project would also cement Hastings as the centre of Victoria’s renewable energy future, and provide new and clean employment opportunities for Western Port.
The Federal Government appears to support the Gippsland offshore wind zone, but not the terminal that is crucial to its development. We call on all levels of government to work together to provide certainty to the offshore wind industry, the renewable energy sector, and the Mornington Peninsula community.
Quotes attributable to Josh Sinclair, CEO Committee for Frankston & Mornington Peninsula:
“The VRET would provide Peninsula residents access to some of the 6,000 jobs created in this emerging industry.”
“Hastings is the right location for this terminal given its proximity to proposed offshore wind farms off the coast of Gippsland, a thriving south east business supply chain, and natural deep water shipping channels.”
“Hastings has a vital role to play in our nation’s clean energy future and we must work with government and the private sector to develop new ways of producing electricity for our state and meeting bold and ambitious renewable energy targets.”
“We’re imploring the Federal Government to work with the State to resolve this issue and provide greater certainty for our region.”
