Star of the South data boosts Bass Strait research
Years of environmental studies for Star of the South have built one of the largest marine datasets collected in Bass Strait.
Now that data is being shared to help scientists build a better understanding of the region’s marine life.
CSIRO and Deakin University are amongst the first to use Star of the South data to support new research. CSIRO is undertaking a cumulative impact assessment to understand the potential effects of multiple offshore wind projects in Bass Strait. Deakin University is using the 15,800+ individual fish observations collected to understand how fish communities vary across habitats, depths and seasons.
It means the work completed for Star of the South will continue contributing to marine science and knowledge of Bass Strait for years to come.
Read more about how the data is being used.
Local learning trip
This month our team spent three days in Gippsland learning from local people, places and projects.
We headed out on the water with Wildlife Coast Cruises, visited the San Remo Fishermen’s Co-op to hear about its history and how it operates today, and stopped by the Marinus Link shore crossing site at Sandy Point to see similar construction activities to those proposed for Star of the South.
We also joined Bunurong man Rob for a cultural walk and talk at Inverloch, learning more about Country and how culture was considered during development of the RACV resort.
It was a valuable opportunity to learn from others and deepen our understanding.
Guide to Victoria’s offshore wind tender
Offshore Wind Energy Victoria has released a useful guide explaining how Victoria’s first offshore wind tender process works, the timeline and how projects will be assessed.
Bringing offshore wind into the classroom
Gippsland students have been getting a hands-on introduction to offshore wind and some of the technology and skills that could be part of the industry’s future.
Students from Corner Inlet College recently visited our Gippsland office to learn how offshore wind works, what it takes to develop a project at sea, and the different jobs and skills involved.
Gippsland Tech School’s Remote Underwater Vehicle (RUV) program saw students from three regional schools design, build and race their own underwater vehicles at Swifts Creek P-12. RUVs are used in offshore wind for everything from environmental surveys and monitoring to construction and maintenance. Our team joined students to show how the skills they’re developing in the classroom can translate to real-world projects and future opportunities in Gippsland.
Congratulations to Cann River on taking out the RUV challenge – and to all the students who put their creativity and problem-solving skills to the test.
Watch: Planet Wind
Planet Wind is now streaming on SBS On Demand.
Created by Star of the South co-founder Andy Evans and Australian director Dominic Allen, the documentary explores the human stories behind the development and growth of offshore wind around the world – including right here in Gippsland.
