Australian offshore wind developer Star of the South has released environmental assessment documents for public review covering its proposed offshore wind project and associated transmission infrastructure. The draft Commonwealth Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and the Victorian Environment Effects Statement (EES) will be available for public review and comment from 18 May to 29 June 2026.
The draft EIS covers the offshore wind farm in Commonwealth waters together with a transmission system located in Commonwealth and Victorian waters and on land. The EES focuses on underground cable works in Victorian waters and onshore areas.
The environmental assessments examine topics including marine mammals and turtles, offshore ornithology and bats, benthic ecology, fish and invertebrates, shipping and navigation, fisheries, coastal processes and sediment transport, as well as visual, social and economic impacts.
Star of the South stated that technical specialists assessed 26 topics as part of the process. The EIS and EES documents also include environmental management frameworks outlining how environmental impacts would be identified, managed, monitored and reduced throughout the project lifecycle.
The Commonwealth EIS process is managed by Australia’s Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act. The process will result in an approval decision by the Australian Minister for the Environment.
The Victorian EES process is managed by the Victorian Department of Transport and Planning under the Environment Effects Act. A Victorian Inquiry will review submissions and provide advice to the Victorian Minister for Planning.
The project documentation is available online and at several libraries and community locations across Gippsland, Victoria. Community information sessions, webinars and public pop-up events are also planned during the consultation period.
