We are committed to working closely with local stakeholders, Traditional Owners, and regulators to deliver the project with care for the community and environment.
EPBC referral area
As part of the referral, we have defined a study area that includes offshore and onshore zones where the project and associated infrastructure may interact with matters of national environmental significance.
Studying impacts across this complete area will give us stronger baseline data and support better planning to avoid and reduce environmental and cultural heritage impacts. This approach also:
Studying impacts across this complete area will give us stronger baseline data and support better planning to avoid and reduce environmental and cultural heritage impacts. This approach also:
- Ensures potential cumulative impacts are considered
- Strengthens baseline data to inform mitigation and avoidance measures.
- Provides flexibility during project design
- Accounts for developments in shared transmission infrastructure planning
In reality, the project footprint is expected to be significantly smaller.
We’ve also sought to align with planning currently being done by VicGrid, as part of its work to connect future offshore wind projects to the energy grid. Our onshore study area closely follows VicGrid’s Gippsland Shoreline Renewable Energy Zone. This area has been identified by VicGrid for offshore wind connections (underground) as it is expected to result in lower environmental, social and cultural heritage impacts.
