RPS to lead baseline marine survey program for Seadragon offshore wind project

RPS will undertake a comprehensive marine environmental baseline survey program for Flotation Energy’s Seadragon offshore wind project off Gippsland in Victoria, Australia.

Anna Crameri, RPS’ Offshore Wind Development Lead says RPS is looking forward to continuing to work with Flotation Energy over the next few years. She says the $22 million marine program will play a critical role in the development of the proposed project.

“Marine studies are vital for all developers as they seek to understand the environment in which they hope to build an offshore wind farm.

“Our marine baseline program for Flotation Energy will inform the environmental impact assessment (EIA), which is a requirement for developers seeking project approval.

“The program findings will also play an important role in design and mitigation measures to minimise the impact of development on the environment.”

Anna says the marine program will include baseline surveys for marine mammals, birds, fish, benthic and coastal processes.

“The Seadragon Project is in its very early stages. We’ve been providing approvals services, project management, technical oversight and marine environmental baseline survey planning and procurement services.

“Our first marine field survey commenced last week, which was an exciting milestone. It involved deploying some specialised acoustic monitoring equipment to help understand how marine mammals like whales and dolphins use the proposed project area and surrounds.”

The marine baseline survey program will be carried out by RPS in collaboration with a number of scientific and academic partners including JASCO Applied Sciences, Deakin University and the CSIRO.