The Latrobe Valley and Gippsland can lead Victoria in renewable energy as the state transitions away from coal-fired power, a report tabled in the state's Legislative Council has found.

Our Gippsland campaigner Wendy Farmer takes a deep dive into the inquiry, how it came about and what it means for the Latrobe Valley.

Victoria could soon be home to the country's first offshore wind farm, the flagship Star of the South offshore wind farm proposed in the Bass Strait off the coast of South Gippsland.

On 6th April 2022 our Gippsland campaigner Wendy Farmer joined a tour of the region by the offshore wind project's Community Advisory Group.

The group represents people from across Gippsland who have continued to work with the Star of the South team and surrounding communities. We toured the Port Welshpool area, known as the windiest place in Victoria, McLoughlins Beach, Reeves Beach and Giffard West allowing the group to take in the area surrounding the offshore wind farm, where project infrastructure would be located including proposed transmission lines.  

In a key moment for Victoria’s transition to renewable energy, the Latrobe Valley’s first wind farm has been approved by Victorian planning minister Richard Wynne MP.

Once constructed, the Delburn wind farm will be situated in pine plantation south of Morwell and overlook the retired Hazelwood coal fired power station and mine site.

Building the project is expected to create up to 186 new full-time equivalent jobs during construction, 24 ongoing jobs over the the operating life of the project, and power an estimated 135,000 Victorian homes with clean renewable energy.

The announcement comes one day before the fifth anniversary of the closure of the Hazelwood coal fired power station.

The Latrobe Valley’s first wind project, the Delburn wind farm, has taken another step toward reality, with the public submissions period for the project now underway. 

Proposed in pine plantation in the Strzelecki Ranges south of Morwell, the 33 turbine project will overlook the former Hazelwood coal plant, and is expected to power 125,000 Victorian homes with clean renewable energy.

Environment group Friends of the Earth and local advocates welcome the announcement, saying this is a key moment for the community to shape the Latrobe Valley’s renewable energy future. 

“The Delburn Wind farm is another piece of the puzzle in the Latrobe Valley’s energy transition, offering a new source of jobs and a reliable source of energy generation for Victoria as the state acts on climate change” said Wendy Farmer, Yes2Renewables Gippsland Campaigner at Friends of the Earth.

If approved, the Delburn wind farm proposed by local developer OSMI will be the first wind project built in the Latrobe Valley, currently home to Victoria’s ageing coal-fired power stations.  It will create local employment opportunities and economic activity while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Friends of the Earth supports the Delburn wind farm for Gippsland, and we see this project as being part of Victoria’s necessary transition away relying on fossil fuels to meet the state’s electricity needs.

The 180-200 megawatt project is expected to generate an approximate 590,000 MWh of electricity annually using 33 turbines. This is enough renewable energy to power up to 125,000 average Victorian homes every year, equating to an annual saving of 590,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions.

As Victoria transitions away from fossil fuels, it's essential that clean, healthy and sustainable industries are established to provide communities the benefits of good, climate jobs. This is particularly true in the Gippsland region, which is in the midst of a largely unplanned transition away from coal and native forest logging. 

The well-known and much-loved Quit Coal Victoria collective from Friends of the Earth Melbourne has decided to rename itself as the Energy Justice Victoria collective. We love our supporters and know many people are passionate about Quit Coal Victoria’s work, and so we wanted to explain to everyone why we are renaming ourselves and why we are so excited about it!