Good for the Gong has hosted an event in Thirroul to discuss why offshore wind could be good for the local economy and environment. Subscribe now for unlimited access . Login or signup to continue reading The Thirroul Community Centre car park was out of space as members of the community arrived at the event which hosted screenings of the films Great Ocean Love and Walanbaa Ngiiyani | Stronger Together.
The screenings came the day after the closure of the Senate Inquiry on the Offshore Wind Consultation Process , but the event wasn't designed around the inquiry according to Bulli local Sophia Walter. "I think the Senate inquiry is an opportunity to draw attention to the way that disinformation really thwarted consultation in our community," she said. "I think the consultation process was reasonable here but I do think that opponents sought to make it really hard for the community to hear the facts.
" 14,200 public submissions were received during the public consultation on the offshore wind plan. Ms Walter said she wanted the community to celebrate offshore wind as a good thing for nature. "It's a really good thing for our community in terms of benefits that it will bring, like jobs," she said.
"I think sometimes there's a bit of a squeaky minority that are against the offshore wind proposal. "We've talked to thousands of people in the community and we're finding that almost everyone we talk to is either really supportive of offshore wind or they don't have a strong view about it." Local climate champions After the screening of the two films, a panel discussed why offshore win could be good for the community if held to high standards.
Lily Pollard who is featured in Great Ocean Love is a local professional bodyboarder who says she considers herself "an environmental advocate". "I think the idea of anti-wind is quite intimidating, but I think it's important that we have these conversations," she said. "I think in the end everyone cares about the environment on both sides and we're trying to work out a solution for energy that has the least impact.
"I'm a yes for offshore wind but a cautious yes because I think it is important it is done properly with feasibility studies." Ms Pollard said seeing so many members of the community showing up on a "beautiful sunny day" was great. "I thought they'd be at the beach, that's probably where I'd be," she said.
"People are open to hearing stories and hearing ideas and hearing the facts. "I think that's what we need to do, come together and have a discussion and figure it out." Joining Ms Pollard on the panel was Michelle Voyer from the Australian National Centre for Ocean Resources and Security and local university student Anna Feldtmann the president of the Australian Youth Climate Coalition at the University of Wollongong.
Ms Feldtmann says every action can help the climate. "What you do in the climate space doesn't have to be anything big or significant," she said. "Everyday things like recycling or joining local groups and supporting movements that align with yourself, whether that is renewable energy, climate jobs or just any of the campaigns going on right now.
" Seeing the strong community response was "empowering" for Ms Feldtmann. "Very encouraging to keep on going because there's people that also fight with me and have my back at the same time," she said. "I hope people realise how connected all these things are.
We have to protect our species and nature all together. "I think it's very important to know that there's someone else there." Reporter at the Illawarra Mercury, covering the local community.
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