Offshore Wind Energy Implementation

Above (from left): Wellington Shire Council CEO David Morcom, Federation University Executive Director Government Relations and Public Policy Jaime De Ano Jr, Bass Coast Shire Council CEO Greg Box (back), the Hon Lily D’Ambrosio MP, Minister for Climate Action and Energy and Resources, Cr Scott Rae from South Gippsland Shire Council and South Gippsland Shire Director Sustainable Infrastructure Tony Peterson.

One Gippsland board members travelled to Melbourne to voice their willingness to work with government partners to help ensure the success of offshore wind.

The delegation met with the Minister for Climate Action, Energy and Resources and the State Electricity Commission, the Hon Lily D’Ambrosio MP, following the release of the latest Offshore Wind Energy Implementations statement.

The statements set out the Victorian Government’s next steps in developing an offshore wind sector.

In the meeting with Minister D’Ambrosio, One Gippsland sought support for legislation and programs that could provide community benefit and a payment in lieu of rates. 

The delegation detailed the One Gippsland framework for true community benefit. This framework would include:

  • protection of local industry, particularly fishing, farming and tourism;

  • a Payment in Lieu of Rates (PiLoR) mechanism;

  • a Community Benefits Fund, to be financed by all offshore renewable energy and transmission projects with all funds to be returned to Gippsland;

  • a local government infrastructure fund;

  • strategic and infrastructure planning support;

  • Gippsland energy price reductions;

  • investment in broadscale offshore skills; and

  • investment in local and housing enabling infrastructure.

To read more about our Renewables and New Energy Priority Area, click here.

Collective Position