Wind farms no threat to whales says Professor

With the northern migration of whales catching a lot of attention – and the prospect of wind turbines off the Central Coast looming in the background – Professor Gregory Andrews says wind farms could actually be of benefit to whales.

Hunter Central Coast Offshore Wind Project by Energy Estate, 25-55km off the coastline between Newcastle and Gosford, is currently in the feasibility stage of development and involves 110 floating turbines, three offshore floating substations and associated infrastructure to connect to the former Munmorah Power Station.

In February the Federal Government announced a proposed Hunter Offshore Renewable Energy Area extending from Norah Head to Port Stephens.

“At the moment some people on the Central Coast appear to be getting sucked in by misinformation about whales and wind farms,” Andrews said.

“They believe a proposed offshore wind farm threatens them as they migrate up and down the coast.

“The science shows Australia’s whales do face serious threats – but not from wind farms.

“Indeed, as part of the world’s urgently-needed shift away from fossil fuels, wind farms can contribute to whales’ security.”

Andrews is an Adjunct Professor at University of Canberra’s Institute of Applied Ecology and was Australia’s first appointed Threatened Species Commissioner from 2014 to 2017.

“It’s something I noticed when I was Commissioner that often issues like this can really divide communities and that’s quite sad,” he said.

“Wind farms don’t effect whales; there are people who think they do but they’re basically conspiracy theories unfortunately.

“Whales are seriously threatened, but apart from climate change, like all marine species it’s the plastics pollution, discarded nets, ship strikes – and we really need to put pressure on Japan to stop hunting whales.

“Whales are primarily imperilled by climate change which wreaks havoc on their ocean habitat and alters their food availability and migration patterns.

“Data shows many are already returning from Antarctica malnourished.

“Over-fishing also depletes their food sources and toxic pollution contaminates their environment and harms their health.

“Ship propellors and noise caused by busy maritime traffic are also major threats.

“Wind farms are not.”

Andrews said wind farms could benefit whales by helping combat climate change through their generation of clean, renewable energy without greenhouse gas emissions.

“By reducing our reliance on fossil fuels, wind farms help protect ocean habitats from the impacts of rising temperatures and ocean acidification,” he said.

“Wind energy has another noteworthy advantage for whale conservation in regions like the Central Coast, Newcastle and the Hunter, where burning and exporting coal are major activities.

“Transitioning to renewable energy and ceasing coal exports can substantially reduce shipping traffic.

“This lowers the risk of ship strikes and noise pollution to whales and thus helps safeguard their well-being.

“The Port of Newcastle handles 4,700 ship movements per annum – it is the biggest coal exporting facility in the world – and each ship represents a threat to whales everywhere it travels.

“And indirectly, each ship threatens whales through its facilitation of coal exports and global emissions.

“Coal is the world’s number one source of climate damage and Australia is the world’s biggest coal exporter.

“Protecting whales requires a multifaceted approach … and transitioning to renewable energy sources like wind can help forge a sustainable future for our whales.”

Sue Murray