FORMER deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce has called on Port Stephens residents concerned over offshore wind projects to take their protests to Canberra.

Speaking at a public rally on Saturday 7 October on the Nelson Bay Foreshore, the Member for New England rallied the crowd to fight back against the Federal Government’s offshore renewables plan for the Hunter.

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Speaking to News Of The Area prior to taking the stage, Mr Joyce described the push for renewable energy in Australia as a “cult”.

“We all have the same problems in different areas,” Mr Joyce said, referencing other regional communities pushing back against renewables projects.

“We have these people who just believe they have more rights over our life than we have over our own lives.
“Cults don’t listen to logic, they just do whatever they like.”

Mr Joyce also expressed exasperation that the current Federal Government seems opposed to listening to the concerns of residents in impacted communities.

“We have people in the New England who are being absolutely walked over, we have people in Nelson Bay who have been absolutely walked over, and to be quite frank, Mr Bowen and Mr Albanese are not listening, and we have to make them listen.

“It is so frustrating when they keep on saying there are no problems there.

“There are problems there, there are big bloody problems there.

“The first mistake you make in politics is thinking you can walk all over people because they will kick you out of office.”

Mr Joyce called on communities potentially impacted by offshore wind or other renewable projects to “work together”.

“Reach out to the people of New England, reach out to the people of Rockhampton, reach out to the people of Gippsland, reach out to people up on the Cape – they all have the same problems.

“Get together, and turn up on the front lawn in Canberra and your problems will soon be over.”

Speakers throughout the morning covered a variety of topics, including a perceived lack of consultation, the visual amenity, and impacts on the environment, whales, fishing and tourism.

Cheers of “Bugger off Bowen, the wind farms are going” rang sporadically through the 1500-plus crowd, with Federal Energy and Climate Change Minister Chris Bowen the target for much of the crowd’s displeasure.

A key organiser and MC for Saturday’s rally was Newcastle and Port Stephens Game Fish Club president Troy Radford.

“Our concerns are the lack of consultation period that the government actually had for us,” Mr Radford told NOTA.
“It was a 65 day consultation period.

“For a project this size it is inadequate.

“There were 2000 submissions – 66 percent were against and yet the government still feels free to go ahead and pursue this project.”

Mr Radford and his peers in the fishing community are also fighting to ensure transparency in the environmental impact process.

“The other thing is that we are demanding that the environmental impact statements are done by transparent companies and not run by the companies who are proposing to do the projects,” Mr Radford said.

“We hold major concerns that they could hide information and potentially wreck the environment.”

Also taking to the stage on Saturday were Port Stephens One Nation spokesperson Mark Watson, One Nation MLC Tania Mihailuk, Nationals Member for Lyne Dr David Gillsespie and Mark Banasiak from the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party, among others.

Mr Watson, who ran as the One Nation candidate for Port Stephens in the last state election, told NOTA the project lacked social licence.

“The biggest concern I have is for the residents of Port Stephens,” he said.

“What it is going to do to tourism.

“What it is going to do to small business.

“There is no social licence, the impact studies haven’t been done yet, there hasn’t been enough consultation and there is not enough communication with residents.

“We need them to be able to have their say and speak up and tell the government what they want.

“What they want is to not have this wind farm in Port Stephens.”

Dr Gillespie, who represents an area covering from the Myall Coast to Port Macquarie, said he would stand alongside the people of Port Stephens in their fight against offshore wind development.

“The project is a bad idea,” Dr Gillespie said.

“It is in the wrong place and will have a huge impact on the environment. It is situated smack bang next to a cluster of NSW and national marine parks, whale migration route, and huge tourism blue economy with whale watching, fishing, and boating.

“It will cost local tourism jobs.

“It will be a navigation hazard for recreational and commercial shipping.

“The grid connections will be an eyesore offshore and onshore through protected environmental areas.

“I am supporting local people on the Myall Coast and Port Stephens in their opposition.”

Notable local speakers included Frank Future, the founder of Imagine Cruises and a trailblazer in the whale watching and tourism industry.

Port Stephens Mayor Ryan Palmer also took to the stage, telling the crowd it was the “start of the fight, not the end of the fight”.

“It is important we keep up the fight because without this grassroots campaign, we wouldn’t be stopping this.
“This must continue.”

Multiple speakers expressed feeling a sense of betrayal from local Labor party representatives on the issue, a sentiment echoed by many in the crowd.

On Friday night, Member for Port Stephens Kate Washington issued a statement to social media reaffirming her commitment to protecting Port Stephens’ best interests.

The local MP also reminded residents that no offshore projects are currently underway.

“I have heard from many people in Port Stephens about their concerns regarding the prospect of a possible wind farm project,” Ms Washington said.

“To be clear, no wind farm proposal has been submitted, considered or approved.

“Indeed, there are many steps to be taken over a number of years before any possible proposal is even made.

“I absolutely love everything about Port Stephens, from our stunning environment to our beautiful community.

“I have a strong track record of fighting for our unique marine, coastal and hinterland environments over many years.

“And that will never stop.

“If approval is sought for a wind farm off our coast in the future, our community will have an opportunity to assess the proposal and make submissions based on known facts.

“Until then, and as always, Port Stephens is my priority.”

Member for Newcastle Sharon Claydon also took to social media to promote the positives of bringing an offshore wind industry to the Hunter.

“Wind energy represents an exciting opportunity for Newcastle.

“Developing an offshore wind energy sector will not only help deliver more renewable energy and thus help the planet – it will also drive regional investment and create jobs.

“The Hunter Offshore Wind Zone could create more than 3,000 jobs during construction and another 1,500 during operation.

“These are well-paid jobs in engineering, manufacturing and trades, created and supported by renewable energy.

“For Newcastle, this means new jobs in the local manufacturing, construction, maritime, transport and logistics industries.

“And it means continued growth of our vocational education and training pathways – our TAFE and our university.”

The Background

In July, the Australian Government declared an area in the Pacific Ocean off the Hunter, as suitable for future offshore wind development.

The declared Hunter area covers 1,854 square kilometres between the Central Coast and Port Stephens and is 20 km from the coast in the north and over 35 km from the coast in the south.

The zone has the potential to generate up to five gigawatts of renewable wind energy, enough to power an estimated 4.2 million homes.

The government believes offshore wind projects in the area will create up to 3,120 construction jobs and another 1,560 ongoing operational jobs.

The period for developers to submit feasibility licence applications for proposed offshore wind projects in the Hunter area opened on 8 August 2023 and will close on 14 November 2023.

During the feasibility stage, licence holders must undertake detailed environmental assessments and further stakeholder consultation to advance their specific project proposals.

Construction cannot begin until the feasibility stage is complete, and environmental and other approvals are in place.

By Doug CONNOR