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Peter Dutton to scrap Geographe Bay offshore wind farm proposal under Coalition Government
Credit: Oliver Lane, Bunbury Herald · Mon, 21 October 2024 · thewest.com.au ~~
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Peter Dutton has used his trip to the South West to announce a Government under his leadership would scrap the offshore wind farm zone proposed for the Geographe Bay.
The 4000sqkm zone has sparked controversy in the region, with local groups decrying the plan’s impact on the environment and visual amenity of the region.
Since the zone was proposed, South West Liberal politicians have criticised the idea and the associated consultation period.
On his first trip to Busselton this year on Friday, Mr Dutton said the people of the South West did not support the idea.
“I can announce today that we will not proceed with this offshore wind farm in Geographe Bay here,” he said.
“It’s not supported by the residents, not economically viable and what Australians now realise is that their power prices are going to continue to go up and up under Anthony Albanese because he continues to support these non-viable propositions, which will only make it harder for us to provide reliable energy and energy at an affordable rate.”
The zone was initially announced in February before the zone was revised in August, splitting it in two and almost halving its size. It will now be at least 30km off the coastline and is predicted to produce up to 11.4GW. The Federal Government predicts it would be operational between 2028 and 2032, providing about 7000 construction jobs and 3500 ongoing jobs.
More than 2600 submissions were received during the consultation period, with the vocal Save Our Geographe Bay group leading calls for it to be binned.
Mr Dutton called on Anthony Albanese to distance himself from the proposal. “The onus is now on the Prime Minister to make sure that he can make it clear to West Australians as well that he doesn’t support this particular proposal,” he said.
“It’s not in the environment’s best interests, it’s not in the economy’s best interest, it’s not in the region’s best interest and it’s not in the interests of small businesses or residents here in this local community.”
The South West has become an energy battleground as both State and Federal Labor Governments look to put the region at the forefront of the renewables transition. Mr Dutton has instead vowed to build a small modular reactor in Collie, which he says will be able to provide reliable base load power and lead to “literally thousands” of jobs but the cost and specific time frame is yet to revealed.
Liberal candidate for Forrest Ben Small said locals had not been listened to by the current Government. “For months now, South West locals have been frustrated and telling Nola (Marino), Andrew (Hastie) and myself about how they feel that Anthony Albanese has steamrolled their genuine local concerns about the Geographe Bay wind farm,” he said.
“Several months passed of the sham consultation period, during which no senior Labor MP fronted our local community. Just recently, Anthony Albanese landed right here in Busselton and drove straight past our affected communities for a cheap political stunt in Collie.”
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