The Australian Government has designated the area in the Indian Ocean off Bunbury, Western Australia, as the country’s latest offshore wind development zone, however, the size of the area and its expected power generation have been scaled back.
After a consultation process that began in February, the declared area has been reduced from its initial 7,674 square kilometres to 3,995 square kilometres.
Over 60 per cent of the area, including the popular Naturaliste Reef, was excluded at the request of recreational fishing groups, according to the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW).
The area in the Indian Ocean off Bunbury, WA, between Cape Naturaliste and Dawesville, is further offshore to minimise visual impact (30 kilometres minimum) and has the potential to generate up to 11.4 GW of renewable energy.
Following the declaration, the zone will be open to feasibility licence applications, which will be accepted between 3 September and 6 November.
According to the government, the zone will bring new employment opportunities to Bunbury, creating up to 7,000 during construction and approximately 3,500 ongoing jobs.
The zone is one of the six the Australian government is considering for offshore wind development, four of which have already been designated as offshore wind zones: Gippsland, Victoria ; Hunter, New South Wales ; Southern Ocean, Victoria ; and Illawarra, New South Wales.
The public consultation for an offshore wind zone in the Bass Strait region off Northern Tasmania was closed on 31 January 2024, and the government is currently considering public submissions.