Risk to endangered southern right and blue whales from offshore wind farms largely unknown, researchers say 

Researchers say the risk to endangered whales from offshore wind turbines is largely unknown, as community groups push back against a proposal for a renewable energy zone along the coast of Victoria and South Australia.

The proposed zone in the Southern Ocean stretches 5,100-square-kilometres off the coast from Warrnambool in Victoria to Port MacDonnell in South Australia.

The federal government said the area would start at least 10km from shore, with wind turbines standing approximately 250 metres above sea level.

It would have the potential to produce 14 gigawatts of energy, create 3,000 construction jobs and another 3,000 ongoing jobs, and aid the Victorian government to achieve its target of reaching 95 per cent renewable energy by 2035.

Community concerned for whales

Community groups have pushed back against the proposal, citing a variety of concerns, from the possible impact on local tourism to potential impacts for two species of endangered whales.

The area includes the ecologically significant Bonney Upwelling and overlaps an annual migration route and calving zone for southern right whales between May and October.

Blue whales also feed on krill in the area from November to May.

Considered Renewables Portland representative Ashlee Ludeman said the community group was not opposed to wind farms, but maintained the proposed zone was not the right place for development.

“At any time of year, there’s always one of these endangered species going through the coastline where they want to place these offshore wind turbines,” she said.

“If it displaces them, the whales could abandon that habitat altogether.”

The Southern Ocean zone is one of six key regions around Australia highlighted by the government for offshore wind generation potential.

A zone off Gippsland’s coast was the first in the country to be declared as a designated offshore wind zone.

At the time, local environmentalists raised concerns about the turbine’s impact on the habitat of whales, dolphins, and other marine life in the zone.

A second zone off New South Wales’ Hunter coast has also been declared.

Environmental impact studies to be done

Victorian Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action senior scientist for wildlife ecology, Kasey Stamation, said the impact of offshore wind turbines on southern right whales was largely unknown.
map of offshore wind farm zone planned for southern ocean
The area is one of six in Australia the government says has offshore wind potential.(Supplied: DCCEEW)

Speaking to ABC South West Victoria Breakfast, she said the biggest concern was noise disturbance.

“That’s all the way through construction phase and we also need to consider [what] the noise levels of the operating turbines would be,” she said.

“There’s a long way to go and a lot of unknowns.”

Dr Stamation was part of a group conducting aerial surveys of southern right whale populations along the Victorian coast.

“Before any of these [projects] go ahead, there will be environmental impact studies and they will be looking at the data we’ve collected, and they’ll also need to collect their own data where there’s knowledge gaps.”

The department’s draft National Recovery Plan for the Southern Right Whale said the species faced a myriad of threats, including habitat degradation from offshore development and climate change.

According to the recovery plan, offshore developments could lead to physical displacement of southern right whales, particularly by acting as a barrier to migration into coastal breeding ground.

While the potential risk of whales colliding with underwater turbines was raised, the report said there was a greater risk of the mammals hitting vessels servicing offshore wind farms.

Offshore wind vital for decarbonisation

Gregory Andrews, former Australian Threatened Species Commissioner, said the biggest threat to whales and all species on the planet was climate change.

“Offshore wind farms, at an overall level, will have a net positive impact on marine species because these contribute to the extremely urgent decarbonisation required for a safe planet and to secure ecosystems from collapse,” he said.

“People have to the face the reality that coal, oil and gas are extremely dangerous for our safety and that of all species, including whales. They can’t have their cake and eat it too.

“We have to stop burning coal and gas. Wind is extremely important in the mix of the most cost effective and reliable renewable energy sources.”

Blue whale impact unknown

The proposed Victoria-SA zone is also home to blue whales.

Researcher and Blue Whale Study director Pete Gill has studied the species since 1998.

He told ABC Victoria Statewide Drive the proposal held many unknowns.

“I’m not saying there will be an effect, because we just don’t know,” he said.

“The worst I can imagine is that blue whales and their krill will be displaced from areas they have fed for many thousands of years.

“There’s a range of impacts that can stem from these wind farms.”

The federal government has indicated it could tweak the zone’s boundaries depending on community objection, as was done when the Gippsland zone’s shore buffer was increased from 5km to 10km.

Consultation on the proposal closes on August 31.