OFFSHORE wind developer Flotation Energy’s Gippsland project, Seadragon, has been granted Major Project Status by the federal government.
Major Project Status is federal recognition of the national significance of a large-scale (worth over $50 million) project for economic growth, employment, or for regional Australia, as well as its need for support to navigate complex regulatory approval.
The Seadragon offshore wind farm proposes to construct an offshore wind farm in waters off the coast of Ninety Mile Beach, connecting to Victoria’s electricity network. The proposal includes up to 150 wind turbines and a network of subsea cables, with an indicative generation capacity of 1.5 gigawatts.
It is currently the third project in the state to be awarded major project status, which officially occurred on October 24 2023, with the status expiring on October 26, 2026.
The federal government says the project has a projected capital expenditure of $6.5 billion and would create around 1600 construction jobs and 200 ongoing jobs over 35 years.
Stakeholder Engagement Lead for Seadragon Offshore Wind, Erin Lord says the Major Project Status will enable strategically significant projects that face complex regulatory challenges to get extra support and coordinated approval.
“It gives us a way into government to ensure we’re working together to get offshore wind happening,” she said.
“There are only 21 current projects in Australia that have Major Project Status, three in Victoria – Star of the South (offshore wind), a Rare Earth Minerals Project near Swan Hill, and now Seadragon.”
Ms Lord pointed out that Seadragon’s new status means that two of the three Major Projects in Victoria are in the Wellington Shire, and both relate to offshore wind.
“It is a really big indicator of how important offshore wind is to Australia’s future. And it also speaks to the fact that our project is well considered. We’ve been in Gippsland since 2019, talking to the community – that’s ramped up significantly over the last year,” she said.
“And we’re a project that will contribute to clean energy and climate change action.
“We commend the Wellington Shire on their progressive work in the new energy space and thank them for providing the environment for offshore wind to develop and provide new opportunities for the supply and jobs in the region.”
On December 19 2022 in Seaspray, the Federal Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Chris Bowen declared the Bass Strait off Gippsland as Australia’s first offshore wind zone. They also awarded Major Project Status to the Star of the South project.
