Renewable Energy Terminal proposed for Hastings given Commonwealth tick

The Port of Hastings has today received a decision from the Commonwealth Government on its referral for the proposed Victorian Renewable Energy Terminal.

This referral was made to the Commonwealth Government under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act.

The Commonwealth Government has determined the proposed Victorian Renewable Energy Terminal project be a Controlled Action.

The Committee has been a vocal supporter of this project since 2023, and we strongly believe it will have a positive impact on Hastings and Western Port communities.

The Victorian Renewable Energy Terminal is an important enabling project for Victoria’s plans for Offshore Wind, and this determination confirms the project will continue through environmental assessment.

The Port of Hastings has advised that preliminary impact assessments found potential impacts from the project would be small, localised and temporary, with nothing indicating the impacts would be unacceptable.

Now, the project must obtain approval from both the State and Commonwealth Governments before construction can commence.

Subject to these outcomes, construction is likely to commence in 2027.

This is a positive step in the process towards the establishment of the Victorian Renewable Energy Terminal in Hastings - a key advocacy priority of the Committee.

Since 2023, the Committee has been a long standing supporter of this project - and it has been a journey to get to this point!

2025

• Committee makes submission to the public comment period of the EPBC Act in support of the proposed project, calling for a controlled action.
• CEO makes multiple media appearances in local news and local radio supporting the project
• Committee supported the new referral by Port of Hastings
  
• Committee welcomed the Port of Hastings as a Community Partner of the Committee for Frankston & Mornington Peninsula.
• Committee also welcomed key offshore wind proponents, including Gippsland Skies and Blue Mackerel.
• Committee for Gippsland and Committee for Frankston & Mornington Peninsula collaborating raise efforts to collaborate on this vital issue for our region.

2024

• Committee expresses its disappointment in the first decision made by the Commonwealth Government (over the previous referral).
• Committee CEO visited Federal Parliament with the Mornington Peninsula Shire Mayor to indicate our support for the project and disappointment with previous federal decision. This included direct meetings with the previous Minister's office.
• CFMP met with relevant Ministers in Victorian Parliament expressing our support for this vital project, including Victorian Treasurer, Minister for Planning, Minister for Environment, and Opposition Leader.
• CEO made multiple media appearances in local news and local radio supporting the project

2023

• CFMP holds briefing for members by the Port of Hastings on the project
• Committee supports Victorian Budget commitment of $27.3m towards a proposed Victorian Renewable Energy Terminal in Hastings.
• Committee announces its support of proposed project.
  

Quotes attributable to Committee for Frankston & Mornington Peninsula CEO, Josh Sinclair:

"This is the outcome we have been waiting for. Now the community can have its say on this project."

"Our submission called for a controlled action because we believe this project has enormous potential economic and clean energy benefits for Hastings - enabling the establishment of the Gippsland Offshore Wind Zone."

"The proposed site  is right in between Bluescope and Esso. It is entirely appropriate for an offshore wind assembly terminal to be built there."

"There is no better placed location for the Victorian Government than Hastings for this project and the Committee is proud to support it"