Proposed Offshore Wind Area: Indian Ocean off Bunbury, Western Australia

Job opportunities, Energy resource

Geographe bay is a large area of vast marine life that is sheltered by a fragile ecosystem of marine coral & reef structure. These reef systems play a vital role in providing habitat for our demersal fin fish species. These essential reef systems as well as marine life would be seriously impacted by the implementation of these wind farms and their undersea structures. There is no mention of any ecological consideration in any of the public available information which is a grave concern as this proposal is suggesting that a massive area of our coastline will be effected. The purposed 7674 square kilometre area will also restrict recreational fishing from taking place which is an absurdly large area of regularly fished ocean. This will have a damaging economic ripple effect on the local tackle stores in the south west area as well as putting unnecessary pressure on other areas of our coastline. Undersea noise generated by not only the construction but the foreseeable running of these structures has also been shown to have effects on marine life such as migration patterns of which large numbers of southern right whales & humpback whales that move along our coast may be effected by.

The southwest corner of WA is a pristine, untouched corner of our country and a popular tourist destination or millions of people every year. The introductions of these vast areas of offshore structures that will clearly be visible from the land will pose an unnatural eyesore for all local residents as well as visiting tourists.

The development may create a demand for local jobs in the southwest

The purposed 7674 square kilometre area will restrict recreational fishing from taking place which is an absurdly large area of regularly fished ocean. This will have a damaging economic ripple effect on the local tackle stores in the south west area as well as putting unnecessary pressure on other areas of our coastline. Undersea noise generated by not only the construction but the foreseeable running of these structures has also been shown to have effects on marine life such as migration patterns of which large numbers of southern right whales & humpback whales that move along our coast may be effected by.

One of our main concerns is that this proposed area (or at least a vast percentage of it) will be inaccessible to recreational fishing activities. While recreational angling and wind farms can co-exist, we fear this will not be a factor considered in the constriction of these structures and as such there will be a vast lock-out area in the proposed development area.