Visualise
See the Blue Mackerel project from different locations
Why we’ve developed visualisations
With Victoria’s aging coal power generation set to retire in the coming years, renewable energy from offshore wind will play an important role in Australia’s east coast energy security. State and Federal governments have planned for this transition, with regulations that developers must meet, including undertaking environment studies and sharing information with communities.
These visualisations are part of our Seascape and Landscape Visual Impact Assessment (SLVIA), which will inform the project’s Environment Impact Statement (EIS) – a critical study that is under development and will be published for public comment in the future.
This means change
Change looks different to everyone. We understand that some people are concerned offshore wind turbines will spoil views from the coast, whereas others welcome them as great progress towards Australia’s clean energy transition. Blue Mackerel respects different opinions and appreciates this topic will be sensitive to many. We have taken great care with engaging technical specialists to accurately develop true representations of the future project.
What are you seeing?
You’re looking at static, composite images that place digital pictures of wind turbines and offshore substations over real photographs, taken at 17 different locations. The infrastructure is to-scale and precisely geolocated. This is for our currently planned 15-megawatt (MW) layout.
Should new wind turbine technology become available, such as a larger 18.5MW turbines, the turbines would be higher and blades larger, but a fewer number would be required. Click here to see those images or Compare 15MW and 18.5MW layouts
See all visualisations
Explore all 17 viewpoints
Don’t have time to explore all 17 locations?
For a quick fly-through of selected viewpoints, we encourage you to watch our video:
Viewing note: This animation is designed to show turbine locations and overall context. Due to video format limitations, image clarity is lower than our high-resolution static visualisations. For best results, select ‘full-screen’ and view on a large monitor.
How it’s done
All images have been developed using real landscape photographs at each viewpoint, accurate GPS locations of the land viewpoints, turbines and substations, and engineering design files for the infrastructure. This evidence-based methodology is used in environmental impact assessments across Australia.
Map showing draft 15MW turbine layout, offshore substations and viewpoint locations.
High resolution photographs were captured at each location mapped with Real-Time Kinematic Global Positioning System (RTK GPS) technology, using a mechatronic camera head that rotates around a central point. This technique removes distortion and creates a precise 360° image of the view. Each vantage point was recorded at 1.57m (the average height of human eyesight) and stitched together from hundreds of overlapping shots. Multiple exposures capture detail in both bright skies and shaded areas, producing an incredibly detailed and true-to-life panorama.
Completion of our early phase studies to understand the geology under the seabed, as well as wind data collected from our floating LiDAR (FLiDAR), has enabled us to undertake Front-End Engineering Design (FEED). This process informs the site layout and design required to maximise the energy output of the project as set out in the site licence conditions.
The visualisations are based on Blue Mackerel’s proposed layout, design and specifications using current 15MW turbine technology. The technical specifications of the infrastructure (below) were entered into software that creates digital images that are added to the visualisations.
The Global Positioning Coordinates (GPS) of each turbine and the GPS coordinates of the Blue Mackerel declared licence area (FL-001) were entered into a Geographic Information System (GIS) to create a map and coordinates for the visualisations.
As the turbines and substations have not yet been constructed, their digital models have to be composited on the visualisations. To ensure accuracy of their heights and lighting, the model uses the same lighting conditions in each high-resolution photograph, the exact location of each photograph and distance to each turbine, and precise calculations to factor in the curvature of the earth (see: proposed wind farm with weather effects).
Camera setup on a wooden platform facing a beach with ocean view
Workers inspecting a large solar panel setup near a waterfront.
Offshore wind turbines in a calm sea under a blue sky
Turbine design specifications
- Quantity: 69 Turbines
- Capacity: 15MW
- Model: Vestas V236
- Hub height: 153m
- Tip height: 271m
- Rotor diameter: 236m
- Substations: two offshore substations with platforms of approximately: 36m high; 40m wide; 30m deep; 17m from bottom to ocean surface
Please note
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The visualisations are based on Blue Mackerel’s current indicative 15MW project design. Should alternative wind turbine technology become available (such as a larger 18.5MW turbine), the turbines would be higher and blades larger, but a fewer number would be required. Click here to see those images.
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Blue Mackerel is still undertaking its feasibility studies and will advise when a final design is determined. In the event of any changes to the proposed 15MW turbines, we will update our modelling and advise community and stakeholders.
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Images at night will be prepared once we have advice on Australian offshore wind infrastructure lighting requirements from the Australian Maritime Safety Authority, Civil Aviation Safety Authority, Air Services Australia, Department of Defence.
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The appearance of the visualisations may vary on different types of computer screens, depending on the age, size, colour settings etc. Printer types vary significantly so printing the visualisations may not necessarily provide an accurate representation.
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For the most accurate view, we recommend exploring the viewpoints through our virtual reality (VR) set at one of our community events. If you can’t make it to an event, please contact us to discuss other options.