An ambitious $10 billion offshore wind farm project for the Illawarra region on the NSW South Coast has sparked intense debate and public outrage. Federal MP Fiona Phillips announced the creation of an offshore floating wind zone, which aims to generate 2.9 GW of electricity - enough to power 1.8 million homes, as well as creating 1740 construction jobs and 870 ongoing jobs. 

There are a number of benefits the project will bring to the region and Fiona highlighted job creation and energy security saying, “this is about getting more renewable energy into the grid, which provides energy security and puts downward pressure on power prices.”

The wind farm will be positioned 20km off the Illawarra coast and is expected to be the fourth largest in Australia, spanning 1022 km. 

However, the announcement was met with fierce opposition on social media. Critics on Facebook labelled the project as ‘absolute lunacy,’ strongly concerned with the environmental impacts of the project, including potential threats to whale migration and increased costs associated with offshore construction. 

Supporters of the wind farm criticised opposition, pointing out the necessity of renewable energy. 

Fiona responded to environment concerns by assuring the public that the project would undergo rigorous environmental approval processes. 

The debate also touched on the broader energy policy. Fiona criticised opposition leader Peter Dutton’s support for nuclear energy, arguing it is too expensive and slow to build. 

“Dutton has no plans to help everyday Australians - struggling families, seniors, and small business owners,” said Fiona, “let me be clear, Dutton and Constance’s support for nuclear and opposition to offshore wind means delaying cheaper power prices and the creation of more local jobs.” 

The project’s future remains uncertain as the community grapples with the balance between renewable energy development and environmental preservation.