Offshore windfarm proponent pulls out of Geographe bay – now the Federal Government should too

The Member for the South West Region Dr Steve Thomas has welcomed news from the WA Environmental Protection Agency that one proponent of a windfarm out in Geographe Bay has requested the EPA abandon its environmental assessment of the proposal.

“I am not surprised that a proponent has pulled out given the massive local backlash, I am simply pleased” Dr Thomas said.

“Offshore windfarms are not sound economically, they present a risk environmentally, and they are not supported by our community.

“Geographe Bay is an iconic part of the culture and lifestyle of the South-West, and it is used for recreation by hundreds of thousands of locals and visitors.

“I hope this latest action is a wake up call to the Federal Government, and I call on Chris Bowen and Anthony Albanese to remove the wind farm zone from Geographe Bay.

“I am not opposed to all wind farms, but this is simply the wrong place to put them.

“The CSIRO has identified that energy from offshore windfarms is far more expensive than onshore turbines in its GenCost 2023-24 report” Dr Thomas said.

“This report has highlighted the difference between onshore and offshore wind turbines, with offshore wind generation being twice as expensive as onshore.

“I have welcomed the commitment by the Federal Opposition to scrap the 4,000 square kilometre wind farm zone in Geographe Bay if they are elected. That is a fantastic outcome for the South West community.

“I also welcome the State Government’s opposition to the offshore wind zone.

“It means that the Albanese Government is now isolated in its support for the zone that would see thousands of wind turbines being put out into our iconic Geographe Bay and take away the local community’s chance to stop them.

“It is time for the Albanese Government to step up and drop this unwanted and uneconomic windfarm zone in Geographe Bay.”