Councillor Matt Brown is strongly opposed to the windfarm proposal off the coast of Kiama, and last night his motion opposing its development was narrowly passed by the November Meeting of Council, 5 to 4.

As head of Destination Kiama, he is concerned about the impact of such highly visible wind turbines on tourism, quoted the Joni Mitchell lyrics, ‘you don’t know what you’ve got ‘til it’s gone’.

"Why would we destroy a pristine view by putting up a windfarm?," he said, noting that not enough study has been done on how the windfarm would impact whales or bird, no other windfarms in the world are as close to the coast as this one and that cables going down to secure the turbines to the ocean floor would create havoc for whales.

Councillor Stuart Larkins spoke against the motion.

"What was announced by private developers is still a speculative proposal," he said.

"They have been doing this up and down the coast, at Ulladulla, Eden, Port Kembla and probably other places in the next few months."

He said that the previous government passed the Offshore Electricity Infrastructure Act in the second half of 2021 and since that time there continues to be amendments to this Federal legislation.

"It’s all in its very early stages."

Noting that no councillor in any neighbouring council has lodged a motion like this one, he said, "There is nothing that Kiama Council can say or do until the Federal Government announces that it will investigate the Illawarra offshore wind zone next year or later. Council, community or individuals can put in their feedback around the zoning when this process starts."

An independent CSIRO report into offshore wind farms identified six potential zones for windfarms. The Illawarra zone was to focus on Port Kembla and the Bluescope Steel area.

"You wouldn’t have a private energy provider doing public consultations with a community if they didn’t expect to be awarded a contract and develop a massive offshore windfarm," argued Cllr Brown.

"It’s very important for the community to have its say, which is why I raised this motion.

"The overwhelming opinion of every single person who has spoken to me doesn’t want to see their coastline developed. Emails are coming through thick and fast, and all are well researched, well considered."

Daniel Hill, a local school teacher who spoke passionately against the power project at the Public Forum meeting, has started a petition against the windfarms. Already over 600 people have signed.

Mr Hill said we need to stay on the front foot because if allowed this development "will be the end of this pristine environment as we know it. There is no question it will affect tourism. Lights will flat all night and bladeswill flash all day. It will be a disfigurement on the sea and a scar on our hearts."

Councillor Mark Croxford, who seconded Clr Brown’s motion, spoke of the visual pollution the turbines would have - their size and concern over constantly blinking lights - yet Councillor Karen Renkema-Lang, who voted against the motion despite concerns around the regulatory framework, noted that we don’t complain about street lights blinking light day and night or overhead power lines or the scar of the freeway that provides access.

"We get used to these lights or we are apathetic," she said.

"If we don’t have things like this [windfarm] there will be no future and no tourism."