Offshore wind war makes ABC's Media Watch

On Monday night, your community magazine featured on the ABC's Media Watch for breaking a story of how fake news has been deployed in the Illawarra's offshore wind debate.

In the 'War over whales & windfarms' segment, Media Watch showed a Facebook post claiming a University of Tasmania study had found offshore wind turbines in Australia could kill up to 400 whales a year and the Flame's Whale of a tale exposé, in which Associate Professor Michelle Voyer says, "It was completely fabricated. There was no such paper."

It’s not the first time our region has made national news since August 14, when the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water first put out a call for feedback on an offshore wind area. Everyone from the ABC to A Current Affair has covered the subject. The Illawarra even appeared in a First Dog cartoon.

In the community, discussions have been heated, with politicians from all sides weighing in, social media groups springing up and a large anti-turbines crowd gathering at Flagstaff Hill for a peaceful protest – all evidence of democracy in action.

Over the past three months, the Flame's team has focused on the human interest stories behind the news. We've shared the tale of the oceans social scientist, the electrical engineer, the protest organiser and the student activist. We've shared opinion pieces by Professor Tim Flannery and Dr Saul Griffith; the surf science expertise of Rob 'Dr Rip' Brander and advice on the best way to be heard by Cunningham MP Alison Byrnes. And we're proud to have shared your thoughts, capturing live feedback from people at public forums.

In a time of tough choices – with the Climate Council recently issuing a Code Blue: Our Oceans In Crisis report – Flame journalists have chosen our trusted safe sources. They are the team at the University of Wollongong's Blue Energy Futures Lab.

The Lab is an informal group with no external funding, made up of more than 30 researchers from many faculties who've all come together to share independent research and inform the community. UOW is an internationally respected institution and it’s to be hoped that local scientists will be called on to do the marine research so urgently needed.

There will be more stories to come and we welcome letters from readers expressing all views. Please get in touch to submit your correspondence (200 to 400 words, remembering we are a small, polite community magazine).

Today is the cut-off for submissions on the Illawarra offshore area proposed for future renewable energy projects. The Illawarra Flame team is encouraging everyone to have a say in this first round of the consultation process.

Over the years to come, we look forward to keeping you informed on the shape of changes to come. And, in the Age of AI and alternative facts, doing the best job humanly possible.

Have your say

The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water is calling for feedback on the Illawarra offshore area proposed for future renewable energy projects, covering 1461sq/km of ocean between 10km and 30km offshore, from Wombarra to Kiama. Click here to have your say by November 15.