The Wellington shire in Gippsland has what many other councils in Australia would kill for: time.
It’s where Victoria’s first offshore wind electricity will emerge from the ocean and as such has had nine years to get used to the idea and start planning.
Residents are receiving the kid-glove treatment from developers and VicGrid, which is managing the huge transmission rollout in the state, and the shire council is already deeply into planning how to accommodate a new industry with maximum local benefits and minimum unintended fallout.
But the very long timeframes are also testing locals’ patience, says Wellington shire mayor Cindy Madeley.
Delays, such as the unexpected postponement of the first tender for offshore wind financial support until August this year, are chipping away at Gippslanders’ faith in the dream they’ve been sold for so long, she says.
