IN Port Stephens to celebrate the opening of the Tomaree Coastal Walk, with her back to the Pacific Ocean, it was inevitable that the topic of offshore wind development would come up when Penny Sharpe addressed local media last week.

Despite the project being a Federal Government one, locals have been very interested to hear the perspectives of the state Labor government, and the area’s elected representatives.

If approved, offshore wind farms could potentially be developed across a zone of 1874 square kilometres between Norah Head on the Central Coast and Port Stephens.

Detractors of the project cite issues with potential damage to the sea bed, noise during construction, hazards to a busy shipping region, impacts on migrating species including whales, and light pollution.

Impacts on existing sustainable recreational and commercial fishing have also been repeatedly raised.

The NSW Minister for Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Heritage, Ms Sharpe told News Of The Area the project was still in the feasibility phase.

“It’s a long way from occurring and all of the issues in terms of the environment, particularly in this area, need to be taken into consideration,” Ms Sharpe told NOTA.

“So we’re working with the Commonwealth government on that.

“I wear two hats; the environment hat and the energy hat.

“I’m coming to this with an open mind around the feasibility study.

“They’re doing the right thing, which is actually coming and talking to people and working out what it is.

“I’ve been talking to ‘fishers’ and other environmentalists.

“They are very concerned.

“I understand that.

“All of those issues need to be understood before you go anywhere near pressing go!

“I’m not in a position to rule things out, but we can’t stand here and look at this area and then go and not understand what the impact would be and we need to work through carefully with that.”

Ms Sharpe said Australia’s need to transition to clean energy is urgent, describing climate change as “the biggest threat that we all face”.

“The government’s working through Renewable Energy Zones, of which the Hunter is one.

“We’re going to have to do transition projects.

“We’re looking at all options to get as much renewables into the ground as quickly as possible and that’s not without challenges either.”

Ms Sharpe said that all viable options for renewable energy generation will be considered.

“We’re looking at every option because the need for this transition is urgent.

“We’re not ruling things out straight away either, the offshore wind proposal is a very long way away and careful work needs to be done and we will do that,” she said.

By Marian SAMPSON