Marine Baseline Surveys

The Victorian Government has committed to the production of 2GW of offshore wind by 2032 and 9GW by 2040. To achieve this timeframe, several dependent activities need to be completed well in advance including supporting the development of an appropriate maritime port to facilitate the supply, assembly and installation of offshore wind towers and turbines. The ‘Victorian Commercial Ports Strategy’ and ‘Offshore Wind Implementation Statement 2’ has identified the Port of Hastings as the most suitable port. Work on planning and environmental approvals for Victoria’s offshore wind port is required now to meet the Victorian Government’s commitment and enable the installation of 9GW of offshore wind generation capacity by 2040.

Port of Hastings Corporation (PoHC) proposed to develop the Victorian Renewable Energy Terminal (VRET) as a facility that would serve as a base of operations for the construction of offshore wind farms off the coast of Victoria and a range of bulk and break-bulk trades.

The project objectives are to:

• Provide the requisite port capacity and capability to service the emerging offshore wind industry in Victoria;

• Meet Victoria’s offshore wind timeline and targets of 2GW by 2032 and 9GW by 2040;

• Develop a port solution at the Port of Hastings, as the Victorian Government’s preferred base of operations for the construction of offshore wind farms.

The VRET will require referral under the Environment Protection Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cth) (EPBC Act) and the Environment Effects Act 1978 (Vic) (EE Act) primarily due to the development occurring within a Ramsar Wetland. Referrals under both of these Acts have been completed and recently submitted to the relevant Ministers.

There are three packages of work within this Invitation:

1. Marine water quality and sedimentation monitoring;

2. Marine invertebrate survey; and

3. Marine pest survey design.

Invitees may bid for any combination of the above packages of work and may be awarded any singular or combined packages as determined by the Port of Hastings Corporation.

The Specifications for this Invitation as are outlined in Part A.2 – Specifications.