Hunter declared Australia’s second offshore wind development zone

An area covering 1,854 square kilometres off NSW’s Hunter region was declared suitable for offshore wind development by the federal government on Wednesday.

According to a statement from the department of energy, the zone is 20 km from the coast in the north and over 35 km from the coast in the south and has the potential to generate as much as 5 gigawatts of renewable wind energy, or sufficient power for an estimated 4.2 million homes.

It is Australia’s second declared offshore wind zone, following Gippsland in Victoria, and has a claimed potential for projects to create up to 3,120 construction jobs and 1,560 ongoing operational jobs. 

According to a statement from energy minister Chris Bowen, the presence of strong, consistent winds off the coast, and the region’s skilled energy and manufacturing workforce make the Hunter an ideal match for an offshore wind industry.

“The Hunter is undergoing significant economic change, and the prospect of creating new job opportunities for decades to come through a new offshore wind industry is a game changer,” Bowen said.

Feasibility licence applications from developers for proposed projects in the Hunter area open August 8 and close on November 14. 

The declaration comes after a consultation process running from February 23 to April 28  this year. 

Picture: credit Star of the South