Two years of marine surveys in Bass Strait for offshore wind
25 March 2022
Star of the South has completed two years of detailed marine environmental surveys in Bass Strait this month, collecting important data to help plan Australia’s first offshore wind farm.
Leading scientists and research agencies including RPS, CSIRO, Monash, Deakin and Curtin Universities and their partners undertook the surveys into marine ecology, fish, birds, marine mammals, currents and waves. The investigations also involved local vessels, providing benefits to the region’s economy while boosting the project’s knowledge from skippers who’ve spent decades on these waters.
More than 13,000 hours have been spent collecting data by boat, plane, on foot and with underwater cameras and sound monitors, in Bass Strait and on local islands.
This is one of the biggest ever marine survey programs in Bass Strait, helping build Australian scientific understanding of this little studied area.
More than 50,000 observations were collected to provide a picture of the existing marine environment, with 37 seabird species, 10 marine mammal species, and 129 fish species recorded.
Star of the South has involved Australian scientists who understand the local studies as well as international experts with offshore wind experience.
Specialists are now analysing the survey data and developing reports, which will be made publicly available through the project’s environmental impact assessment process, expected in 2023.
Results will inform the project design, construction and approvals, so the project is developed in an environmentally responsible way to generate clean electricity for up to 1.2 million Victorians and reduce carbon emissions.
Star of the South involves harnessing Bass Strait’s strong offshore winds with turbines in the sea, connecting into the Latrobe Valley via a transmission network and powering homes. To find out more visit starofthesouth.com.au
Quotes attributable to Star of the South Chief Development Officer, Erin Coldham
“Our marine surveys have spanned two years, involved top scientists and collected tens of thousands of observations, making it one of the biggest survey programs of this type in Bass Strait.”
“Offshore wind is new in Australia and we have a very unique environment here - the health of our marine environment is incredibly important so we’re taking a thorough approach to understand it.”
“We are committed to securing Victoria’s long-term energy needs in an environmentally responsible way – generating clean electricity for up to 1.2 million Victorians and reducing emissions.”
“We’re continuing to work with local communities, fishers and environmental specialists to plan Australia’s first offshore wind project – we always welcome advice from locals who know the local environment well.”
“We’re proud to have used local vessels for our boat-based surveys – the scientists doing these studies were really impressed with the knowledge of local skippers and learnt a lot from them at the same time.”
About the marine environment survey program
Star of the South’s marine surveys started in January 2020. Through this program, the project has collected high-quality baseline environmental data to understand the ecological significance of the proposed project area for key local and migratory species. While most surveys are now complete, some additional bird, whale and fish studies will take place in 2022.
Whales, dolphins, seals and turtles were monitored from the air, boat, and with underwater recording devices that can register across the proposed project area and identify different species and how they communicate.
Seals from local colonies were fitted with GPS trackers to log their movements and understand how they use the proposed project area.
Underwater video cameras were used to identify fish in 130 locations, as well as using commercial fishing methods to see what a typical catch looks like across different seasons.
Underwater monitors were deployed to detect any white sharks tagged in the area.
Seabirds and shorebirds were monitored from the air, boat, along the coastline, and on Bass Strait islands. Around 320 birds were also fitted with GPS tags to track their movements and pinpoint foraging areas and migration routes.
Marine organisms that live on or just above the seafloor were also surveyed using underwater video cameras at 70 sites. Around 100 samples from the seafloor were taken for further analysis.
About Star of the South
Star of the South is Australia’s first offshore wind project, proposed to be located off the south coast of Gippsland in Victoria. Star of the South would help meet energy, emissions reduction and economic goals by supplying secure, reliable and affordable power into the future. Star of the South has the potential to power 1.2 million homes, or nearly 20% of the State’s energy needs.
The project is in the feasibility phase with environmental assessments currently underway to support planning and approvals. If Star of the South is approved and proceeds to construction, works could start by the middle of this decade with full power before the end of the decade.