Southern Coast Ocean Care Committee

Tuesday August 29, 2023

Mr BELL (Mount Gambier) (15:21): I rise to highlight the very good work of a community group in my electorate: the Southern Coast Ocean Care Committee. Earlier this year, news of a proposal for an offshore wind farm off the coast of Port Macdonnell and Cape Douglas began circulating. The proposal, which included 77 reef-fixed turbines, held major implications for local people, jobs, the environment, the fishing industry and, of course, the local rock lobster fishing industry.

Rather than sitting back and accepting this development, a group of local community members took action and took it into their own hands. With the strong backing of the local community they formed a group, an active Facebook page and began a strong campaign to voice their concerns. At the heart of their concerns were the potential impacts on the local fishing industry. Port Macdonnell is a coastal town and virtually every resident's life or livelihood is involved or related in some way to the ocean.

People like abalone diver Chris Carrison, the chair of Southern Coast Ocean Care; and Port Macdonnell's Jeremy and Kai Levins, who are third and fourth generation rock lobster fishermen, are important. All three of these locals were part of a delegation that recently travelled to Canberra, at their own expense, to meet with the federal Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Chris Bowen, and voice their concerns on how the proposed offshore wind farm would impact their town and livelihoods.

Similar to our concerns around fracking farmland 10 years ago, there are general concerns about the effects of offshore wind farms on our valuable natural resource, which is a major economic and tourism driver for our region. Proponents of major development projects in the Limestone Coast must understand the important concept of community licence, which includes considered comprehensive and transparent consultation with local residents. Whilst this is a federal government project requiring federal approvals, I have been firm in my opinion that the state government does have a role to play in recognising our region and has a strong stance on this issue. Today the hard work of the Southern Coast Ocean Care Committee has been recognised.

I would like to congratulate Deputy Premier, Susan Close, and Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Clare Scriven, on coming out strongly on the recommendation that South Australia not be included in the commonwealth's proposed offshore wind farm zone. SA-Best's Connie Bonaros, who has also taken the time to come down to Port Macdonnell and meet with locals, has also been a strong supporter on this issue. It is great to see all sides of politics working together on a united front, and that is how it should be.

Generally, behind every political stance is a hardworking individual or group working to raise recognition of the issue. In particular, I would like to highlight the work of community members who have formed the Southern Coast Ocean Care Committee and all the local people who have taken the time to attend consultation sessions or put forward a submission. There is still more to be done. Submissions to the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water are still open, so there are still a couple of days for people's voices to be heard. It closes on 31 August.

The fight is not over; however, the more community voices that come together the louder the message will be.

Speeches