A snapshot of public opinion in Bunbury has found support for offshore wind development linked to economic benefits but doubts over environmental, social, and other factors including visual amenity.

The findings form part of a larger national survey conducted to determine attitudes towards offshore wind projects.

At the time of the Bunbury survey, there was no detailed information about projects
or expected impacts provided.

Within the Bunbury region, 145 people were sampled as a complementary sample
to a national survey of more than 3000 people to determine the public social licence
to operate offshore wind in Australia.

The survey found that 72 percent of Bunbury respondents indicated some level of support for offshore wind development in Australia, with 21per cent strongly supporting it.

Opposition to offshore wind was minimal, with 12 per cent of respondents expressing
any level of opposition, and 4 per cent strongly opposed; 16 per cent had no opinion either way.

More than three quarters of the participants (78 per cent) believe that offshore wind would boost regional economic development and create jobs.

And 74 per cent see offshore wind as a positive for Australia's overall economic growth.

In a blog releasing the results, environmental economist and researcher Alaya Spencer-Cotton said the findings suggest that for many Bunbury residents,
the potential for economic gains could be reason for supporting offshore wind energy.

Over 90 per cent of respondents thought that offshore wind would have a neutral or positive impact on the reliability of household electricity.

Bunbury residents were most concerned about impacts on visual amenity (64 per cent concerned), impacts on coastal property values (63 per cent concerned),
and impacts on the local fishing industry (52 per cent concerned) and recreational boating and fishing (47 per cent concerned).

There were also environmental concerns. Between 55 per cent to 61 per cent of respondents felt that birds, marine mammals, and the marine environment in
general could be negatively affected.

The national survey revealed that most Australians (61 per cent) have a positive social licence for the future offshore wind industry in Australia; 69 per cent of
people surveyed expressed overall support for building offshore wind in Australia, while 17 per cent were undecided and 14 percent expressed some form of opposition.

The national survey concluded: “This national snapshot of social licence in Australia highlights the nuances in public sentiment towards the industry. Much of the support
for offshore wind appears to be driven by the decarbonisation opportunity and economic potential of the industry. While these are important, there also needs to be
a focus on building trust and legitimacy with communities.”

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