port phillip bay wind farm - barriers & solutions david woodgrove3

D I S C U S S I O N P A P E R

PORT PHILLIP BAY W I N D FA R M O P P O RT U N I T Y

B A R R I E R S A N D S O L U T I O N S

This paper presents opportunities and barriers for a wind farm in Port Phillip Bay.

2 | Wind Farm Opportunity – David Woodgrove © 2013

Executive Summary

This document presents for discussion, the opportunities and barriers to the development of a compact 100 turbine wind farm in the centre of Port Phillip Bay.

Opportunities

1. Positioning & Layout – distinctive visual design to become a Port Phillip Bay icon,

2. Tourism – boat mooring, sightseeing, events, location, and to fly over,

3. Fishing – increased marine life, safe moorings for wharf or boat fishing,

4. Diving – man made reef attracting marine life, provision of moorings and wharfs,

5. Community – funding for bay side communitty sustainability groups, 1 per turbine,

6. Environment – opportunity to assist marine pest and nutrient monitoring & control programs.

Barriers and solutions

1. Visual impact - over 10km from shoreline will minimise visual impact,

2. Noise - over 10km from shoreline will minimise audible impact,

3. Marine life - avoiding use if toxic substances, and minimises noise and vibration during construction,

4. Avian species - turbine impact is small compared to top 10 killers of bird and bat species.

There have been previous proposals that date back 5 to 10 years that propose wind turbines in the bay. However there are no current conversations or proposals available in the public domain.

This report proposes a relationships building phase with stakeholders including: diving, fishing and bay side community groups while the proposal is being developed. Letters of support or consultation papers will assist during the planning and application submission phase.

The EPA’s Environmental Management Plan (EPA 2009) lists environmental problems in the bay including high nitrogen loads, ballast waste from shipping, marine pests, plastics, waste water discharges and dredging. Significant value could be gained by the developer providing small funding grants to help in address or monitor these issues.

By maximising opportunities and addressing barriers, a successful wind farm development has the potential of becoming a landmark success for the environment and to all Victorians.

Wind Farm Opportunity – David Woodgrove © 2013 | 3

Opportunities

1. Positioning and Layout

The unique turbine layout will become an iconic part of Port Phillip Bay’s character and identity. With jetties, breakwaters and viewing infrastructures at each end the wind farm, the development will add significantly to marine life, tourism and renewable energy production for the region. The farm is approximately 8 - 10 km wide and turbines are over 10 km from all shorelines. Water depth in this region is approx 20 - 25 meters as shown on the large map provided separately.

The wind farm is positioned in the centre of the bay, 2 kms away from the main ‘north-south’ shipping channel which carries shipping from the Heads to the Port of Melbourne.

© 2013

Artist impression of North Tourist Centre.

South Tourist Centre

North Tourist Centre


2. Tourism

Inspiration for the north and south tourist centre is taken from the South Channel Marker below.

Boating, fishing and diving will be enjoyed around the jetties and piers that lead to the viewing platforms and restaurant centre.

3. Fishing

Recreational and Commercial

Port Phillip Bay is a renowned location for sport fishing from jetties, shores and boats. The Department of Environment and Primary Industries have developed a number of reports on the range of fish that live in the bay including: snapper, travally, leatherjackets and flatheads. Sport fishing is enjoyed all around the bay with tourist focus around Queenscliff, Geelong and Rosebud in the south and Port Melbourne, St Kilda, Williamstown, and Brighton in the north.

Scallop Fishing

Scallop Trawling was banned in the mid 1990’s following lobbying from fishing groups lead by the fishing and football celebrity Rex Walker. The concerns related to the mechanical disturbance of the large trawling cages

continually impacting the floor of the bay.

In 2013, the commercial scallop fisheries have been proposed again and would operate in six subzones within Port Phillip Bay. Some exclusions will apply, including all areas where fishing is currently excluded (eg aquaculture zones, marine reserves) and two major areas that are popular for recreational fishing for scallops

http://www.dpi.vic.gov.au/fisheries/commercial-fishing/proposal-to-establish-a-commercial-dive-fishery-for-scallops-in-port-phillip-bay/faq

Historic South Channel Marker repaired and relocated off Rosebud.


4. Diving

Reef Structures

The importance of reef structures in the marine environment is well documented and summarised below. Images show manmade structures including jetty piers and reef balls positioned in clusters off Aspendale, Carrum and Frankston.

Piers, ship wrecks and natural reef structures are referred to in these reports as being critical to supporting ecosystems, protection and the sustainability of fish and marine species. There are recent research projects that install artificial reef structures in the bay and to monitor the impact on fish life around these objects.

Reef Ball – satellite reefs at Altona can be seen on You Tube: Rec Reef off Aspendale – Yakka Reef No 1.

Elsa’s Reef – Rye Pier – You tube video (named Elsa’s Reef Rye Pier) show significant sea life, colourful plant life on the pier pylons and significant fish numbers and diving opportunities.

Tourism and diving at Chinaman’s Hut – off Mornington Peninsular

The small structure called Chinaman’s Hut off Mornington Peninsula is an attraction to seals and tourists. The significant amount of tourism created by this single site indicates a larger market for new tourism sites in the bay.

Chinaman’s Hut

http://southbayecoadventures.com/

Http://www.visitmorningtonpeninsula.org


5. Community

This project presents opportunities for community and sustainability groups around Port Phillip Bay to be active stakeholders supporting the development of the wind farm. Engaged groups could be offered community funds or ‘adopt a turbine agreement’ and obtain funding from the developer.

The bases of ‘Supported Turbines’ can be decorated similar to the Hepburn Wind turbines below:

Marine designs, for example could be applied to turbine towers to indicate they have been adopted by one of the many local community sustainability groups.

6. Environment

The opportunity now exists for a financial contribution to come from the wind farm revenues to go towards a number of environmental projects that improve the natural environment in the bay.

These can include some of those outlined in Appendix 3 that are currently funded through DSE (Department of the Environment):

• SeagrassandReefPrograms

• StudyandRemovalofIntroducedPests

• PlasticBagandLitterRemovalPrograms

• StudyandSecuringofFishSpecies

• StudyofAvainSpecies,nesting&migratory


BARRIERS & SOLUTIONS

1. Visual impact

All turbines will be over 10 km from any shoreline. The following diagrams represent the view from shoreline at various km http://www.ideol-offshore.com/en/cms/58/why-offshore-wind-r

Using the above diagram, the wind farm below in Europe (with many more turbines) appears to be around 5 km from the shore. A 10 km distance from the shore would reduce the visual impact by 50%.

3. Marine environment

Noise under water: issues during construction and operation:

Reports below indicated noise may be an issue during the construction period for some larger species (University of Liverpool report). The reports suggest avoiding antifouling paint and chemicals on the turbines that can make their way into the marine environment. Rock and other structures have the potential to attract fish and other marine life.

Extract

Intermittent noise associated with activities during the construction of wind farms (vessel movements, seismic survey, piling etc.) is well within the range of the behavioral audiograms of fish. This is supported by observations of their reactions, which have commonly demonstrated changes in behavior, such as alarm and startle responses (Vella et al., 2001). Such responses may be of particular significance if a wind farm is in close proximity to spawning or nursery ground areas, and particularly if construction is prolonged.

New Habitat Creation Fish tend to aggregate around objects placed in the sea. This phenomenon has been widely used in the development of Fish aggregating Devices. However, the attraction of fish to objects is poorly understood. It is postulated that fish are attracted to submerged objects as they provide shelter from currents and wave action and safety from predators.

Dolphins do not appear to be sensitive to low-frequency sound and often approach vessels. The reaction of individuals to noise may, however, vary with their activity and motivational state. For example, when socializing, dolphins may approach vessels but avoid them during feeding (Richardson et al., 1995). When exposed to sudden loud noises, dolphins are therefore likely to show responses ranging from subtle changes in behavior to avoidance reactions.

2. Noise

Given that any part of the wind farm will be over 10 km from the shore line it is expected that the noise from the turbines may not be heard at the shoreline. When sailing or fishing in boats out on the bay, people who are closer to the wind farm may hear some noise.


4. Avian species

Bird and bat strike

Potential counter measures to reduce bird and bat strike:

• radar bird monitoring to shut down rotation during heavy flight episodes

• effects of colour and paint type to minimise the occurrence of bird strike

• consider flight path height of common bird species when establishing height of blade swept area

Understanding birdlife of the bay

The bay is surrounded by many wet lands and mud flats and mud islands that provide food and nesting grounds for local and migratory birds. There are many studies available that catalogue these bird species, locations and attributes.

By contacting local bird watching groups and research bodies a better understanding of birds that may have flight paths across the centre part of the bay can be obtained such as the article below:

‘Within the Port Phillip Bay (western shoreline) and Bellarine Peninsula Ramsar Site, a number of migratory shorebird species occur in internationally significant numbers each year between September and April. Groups such as the Victorian Wader Studies Group (VWSG), Geelong Field Naturalists Club and the Bellarine branch of then BOCA, have been monitoring shorebird populations on a voluntary basis within Port Phillip Bay through counting and banding activities for the past 28 years.’

www.birdlife.org.au/conservation/projects/past-projects

General background

Many studies are available on bird and bat strike statistics and some compare bird strike statistics of turbines inconsequential to that of glazing in buildings, transport and powerlines. These reports typically suggest that the numbers of deaths from wind turbines are significantly less than that from windows and powerlines. These reports then go on and agree that the primary requirement for wind farm to reduce the impact of climate change may provide a weighting effect that may reduce the argument raised by the small number of strikes on wind farms compared to powerlines and windows.

Industry experts

Dr Cindy Hull of Hydro Tasmania and other entomologists have documented studies and approaches when planning wind farm location and design.


CONCLUSION

By managing the opportunities and addressing the barriers, a small 100 turbine wind farm in the bay can support and stimulate marine environment ecosystems, generate significant tourism opportunities, employment and renewable energy for Victoria.

Opportunities include

• Layout

• Tourism

• Fishing

• Diving

• Community

• Environment

Barriers may include:

• Visual impact

• Noise

• Marine life

• Avian species

Relationship and stakeholder management is key to the success of the project possibly more so than with regard to wind farms on land. Opportunities to work with the EPA on issues of pest and nitrogen management, commercial and recreational fishing associations, could be maximised if small amounts of funding were made available to support management and monitoring projects.

In addressing the opportunities and barriers, this wind farm development can become a landmark success for the environment and to all Victorians.


APPENDIX 1

Previous reports on wind farm in the Bay

An internet search on key words: ‘Port Phillip Bay Wind Farm’, provides the following four items only

• GHD – Report – Renewable Energy and Distributed Power, Australasian Experience Port Phillip Bay Wind Farm Preliminary Assessment – The report is referred to but not available on the website but may be an extensive engineering report on the potential for such a wind farm.

• The Age Sept 20 2003 – Ted Baillieu commented in the negative on wind farms on the great ocean road, south Gippsland coast and Port Phillip Bay – See appendix

• Nepean Wind Energy – report in DiveOz website, reported Robert Booth of N.W.E proposed three hundred turbines claiming that the vistas around Port Phillip Bay were already highly modified – see appendix

• Yes2Renewables recent blog article March 8 – Take Action, Petition - see appendix

Wind Resource – ad hoc information

The author could not readily source wind resource information in the centre of the bay. It is expected that the GHD report referred to above may have estimates of this resource.

In 2009 Enhar recorded wind resource for land based wind turbines on the piers at several locations in Port Melbourne and St Kilda at 5 to 10 meters height. The mast heights were:

St Kilda Harbour - 10 meters 6m/s average over the recording period

The St Kilda pier data is higher than the other sites and has an average wind speed over the recording period of 6 m/s predominantly from the south to SSWest.


APPENDIX 2

Associations and Groups

• Victorian Regional Channels Assoc (Geelong) www.regionalchannels.vic.gov.au

• Tourism Victoria, gov & industry assocation www.tourism.vic.gov.au www.visitvictoria.com

• Fisheries Victoria recreation/commercial fishing www.depi.vic.gov.au www.dse.vic.gov.au/coasts-and-marine/marine/bays,-inlets,-estuaries-and-lakes/port-phillip-bay

• Library of documents www.dse.vic.gov.au/coasts-and-marine/marine/report-library

• Sports Fishing Associations http://ansavic.com.au/ http://www.fishnet.com.au/clubs/clubsvic.html

• Scuba Diving Clubs & Associations www.sdfv.org.au www.diveoz.com.au

• Scuba Dive Industry Association www.underwatervictoria.com.au/

• Sustainability Groups – Port Phillip Bay www.sustainablemelbourne.com

• Bird Watchers association & societies http://birdlife.org.au/ http://birdsaustralia.ala.org.au

• Tool kit http://portphillipmarinelife.net.au/

Extract from EMP Environment Management Plan

APPENDIX 1: ROLE OF VICTORIAN GOVERNMENT AGENCIES

This Appendix is not intended to be exhaustive, but to illustrate the diverse roles of the agencies in Bay environmental management. Further detail on agency roles can be found at the Victoria

Government website (www.vic.gov.au), the Victorian Government Directory and agency annual reports. The role of each of the key agencies is summarised below, accompanied by a map indicating the general area over which it operates within the Bay and/or catchment. The agencies covered are:

• Department of Natural Resources and Environment Fisheries Management

• Fisheries Co-Management Council Catchment Management

• Victorian Catchment Management Council

• Port Phillip Catchment and Land Protection (CALP) Board

• Corangamite Catchment Management Authority (CMA) Coastal Management

• Victorian Coastal Council

• Central Coastal Board Other

• Parks Victoria

• Melbourne Water

• Environment Protection Authority

• Victorian Channels Authority

• Melbourne Port Corporation

• Marine Board


AQIP Port Phillip Air Quality Improvement Plan

Bay Study Port Phillip Bay Environmental Study

Bay SEPP State Environment Protection Policy (Waters of Victoria).

CALP Board Port Phillip and Westernport Catchment and Land Protection Board

CMA Catchment Management Authority

CCMA Corangamite Catchment Management Authority

EMP Port Phillip Bay Environmental Management Plan

EPA Environment Protection Authority

GIS Geographical Information Systems

NRE Department of Natural Resources and Environment

Yarra SEPP Yarra State Environment Protection Policy

WTP Western Treatment Plant

Victorian Channels Authority

The VCA is responsible for the management of the movement of commercial shipping, and the provision and maintenance of commercial navigation channels and navigation aids in the port waters of Port Phillip, Melbourne and Geelong. The Port Services Act1995 provides further details.

Melbourne Port Corporation

The Corporation owns and manages land within the Port of Melbourne. Its objectives are to plan and co-ordinate the development of port land and infrastructure, and to make these assets available to port service providers. The Port Services Act 1995 provides further details.

Marine Safety Victoria

Marine Safety Victoria is the State’s marine safety agency. Its objectives are: to facilitate efficient and safe operation of vessels; to facilitate navigation safety; to improve community awareness of boating safety; to improve and simplify vessel registration and operating requirements; and to be responsible for ensuring an effective response to oil pollution incidents. The Marine Act 1988 provides further details.


APPENDIX 3 – DSE (Department Of Sustainability and Environment)

The DSE website page on Port Phillip Bay shows that the bay supports:

• approximately 300 species of fish

• several hundred species of mollusks

• several hundred species of crustaceans

• at least 200 species of seaweeds

• several hundred species of polychaetes (bristle worms)

• 2 species of seagrass

• several hundred species of cnidarians (jellyfish, corals, etc)

• several hundred species of sponges

http://www.dse.vic.gov.au/coasts-and-marine/marine/bays,-inlets,-estuaries-and-lakes/port-phillip-bay and http://www.dse.vic.gov.au/coasts-and-marine/marine/report-library

The Port Phillip Bay Environmental Management Plan (EMP) provides the overarching framework to address two key risks to the Bay’s environment: nutrients and marine pests. Among the recognised Bay environmental risks, nutrients and marine pests have emerged as particular priorities. These risks can affect ecological processes both Bay-wide and locally and have ecological impacts that are already, or without action could become, irreversible even with the intervention of technology and science.

Seagrass and Reefs Program for Port Phillip Bay

Sea grass mapping of Port Phillip Bay

http://www.dse.vic.gov.au/coasts-and-marine/marine/seagrass-and-reefs-program-for-port-phillip-bay

The Sea grass and Reefs Program for Port Phillip Bay (the Program) is a $5.5 million investment into research and management of Port Phillip Bay sea grass and temperate reefs. This Program will result in one of the most comprehensive Programs of marine research on sea grass and reefs ever undertaken in Victoria

The Program will deliver the following key outcomes:

• A better understanding of the key ecological processes supporting Victoria’s sea grass (particularly in Port Phillip Bay) and temperate reef habitats

• A better understanding of the biodiversity values of the Port Phillip Bay Entrance Deep Canyon marine community, as one of Victoria’s temperate reefs

• Enhanced management strategies and tools to ensure the sustainability of Victoria’s marine environments

• More informed Government, industry and community stakeholders, who are better able to contribute to the management of Victoria’s marine environment for the future.

Who will implement the Program?

Heterozostera tasmanica

Zostera muelleri


The Program is being implemented by the Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (BES) Branch of the Victorian Department of Environment and Primary Industries (DEPI).

Opportunities to clean up the bay

Environmental Management Plan - DEPI

The Environmental Management Plan focuses mainly on nutrient loads and introduced pests.

Management Objectives for the Bay. As discussed above, various instruments, including particularly the Bay SEPP, determine the management objectives for the Bay, which can be described as follows:

• To conserve biodiversity

• To provide recreation and tourism opportunities

• To secure production and sustainable use of wild fisheries

• To provide for aquaculture

• To provide for shipping and boating

• To protect cultural heritage

• To provide water for industrial purposes

Plastic Bag Removal Program

Announcing the premiere of a brand new documentary on marine plastics in Port Phillip Bay, produced by an International team of filmmakers in conjunction with Port Phillip Bay Keeper

http://www.sustainablemelbourne.com/


APPENDIX 4 – Off shore Wind Farm Marine development

Conference http://stukplusconference.com/about-stukplus/

German Approval Agency http://www.bsh.de/en/Marine_uses/Industry/Wind_farms/index.jsp

Bird migration was investigated at the windfarm using video and heat imaging and radar systems to monitor bird collisions with the turbine rotor blades and evasive bird movements. It is the first application of these novel systems, which were installed on the transformer station, turbines and the nearby FINO1 research platform. The aim was to determine to what extent the wind turbines, which are 150 m high and have a rotor diameter of 120 m, are an obstacle to birds migrating through the German Bight in spring and autumn. Bird migration mostly takes place at night and strongly depends on weather conditions, making it especially challenging to investigate.

Proposal to maximise marine life and reef activity

© Photography: Roland Krone

In addition, a study showed that offshore wind turbines could become an attachment point for aquaculture facilities. Buck et al. (2008) showed that rearing blue mussels and seaweeds would be biologically feasible around wind farms in the German North Sea. However, more research on the economic costs and benefits and technicalities of including aquaculture around wind turbines is needed. http://coastalenergyandenvironment.web.unc.edu/environmental-stressors/physical-dynamic-presence/habitat-enhancement-and-loss/

Reports below confirm positive impacts on the marine environment where rock structures that are positioned around the base of the turbines to avoid scouring erosion, create active reef structures and attract marine life and fish to the area.


Science Daily.com

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120410093318.htm

Apr. 10, 2012 — The first Danish study into how one of the world’s largest wind farms affects marine life is now completed. It shows that the wind turbines and the fish live quite happily together. Indeed some species of fish have actually increased in number. As work is just beginning on Denmark’s newest and so far largest offshore wind farm off the island of Anholt, comes some hopefully good news for all fish in the area. A new report from the Danish wind-park Horns Rev 1, one of the world’s largest offshore wind farms, shows that offshore wind farms and fish can live together in harmony.

The 80 huge turbines at Horns Rev 1 are located just off Denmark’s westernmost point and will be celebrating their tenth birthday in just over a year’s time. Like other offshore wind farms, it is located in relatively shallow water, no more than 20 meters deep, and thus in an area which is typically teeming with fish.

Even before the park was built, researchers from DTU Aqua, National Institute of Aquatic Resources in Denmark, sailed out to conduct a survey of fish life in the area.

The study suggests that these stone structures also act as artificial reefs, providing enhanced conditions for fish, with an abundant supply of food and shelter from the current, and attracts fish which like a rocky sea bottom. As such, the turbines have created habitats for a number of new species in the area.

port phillip bay wind farm - barriers & solutions david woodgrove3

Documents