His love of the ocean is a driving factor behind Carrison joining forces with local pollies, rock lobster and recreation fishers as they took their fight to stop offshore wind turbines with 100 metre blade spans from impacting waters off the Port MacDonnell coastline to Canberra this week.

The delegation from the state’s South East told Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen they fear new ocean zoning rules out for consultation will unlock the region for wind farms that could impact their fragile coastline, recreational fishing and seafood industries.

Southern Coast Ocean Care chair Carrison told Bowen that one global wind company, Blue Float, is already circling to install 77 turbines “almost three times higher than our highest local mountain” between Port MacDonnell in South Australia and Portland in Victoria.

Blue Float announced its plan for a Southern Winds Offshore Wind Project last year, saying it would use bottom-fixed turbine technology for the project 10km to 30km offshore, with turbines mounted on a structure fixed into the seabed.

“These turbines will be up to 270m high and will dominate the coastline,” Carrison told InDaily, adding that the group is determined to stop the rezoning that will allow wind farms 10km from the coastline “in its infancy”.

“Personally, I just find it an affront, my job is as an abalone diver, I think if you stabbed me salt water would come out instead of blood,” Carrison said.

“To me it’s devastating to think about going out there into the water and seeing mechanical objects three times higher than our local mountain Mount Schank.”

Carrison was with the Limestone Coast delegation led by SA federal Liberal MP Tony Pasin to ensure his concerns are heard in the current consultation on the new wind farm zoning that ends on August 31.

Bowen has described the region as an ideal location for offshore electricity generation that could enable up to 14GW of offshore wind energy – the equivalent of powering up to 8.4 million homes.

But Carrison’s environmental group thinks Bowen needs to be told “in no uncertain terms, that our region does not want offshore wind turbines threatening our industry and environment”.

Others in the delegation included South Australian Rock Lobster Advisory Council chief executive Nathan Kimber, who said the plan would affect Port MacDonnell’s fleet of 45 fishing vessels and four lobster processors and exporters.

“This offshore wind zone and the activities it supports will impact on the management of the Southern Zone Rock Lobster Fishery,” Kimber said.

He listed concerns about habitat being destroyed, the detrimental environmental impact of erecting turbines and exclusion zones surrounding the farms, along with sound and vibration affecting rock lobster life cycles.

“(And) there is nothing in this proposed zone for South Australia or the Limestone Coast communities,” Kimber said, adding that the fishery generates around $200m in economic activity and supports close to 1200 jobs.

“There will be no net energy benefit – all projects proposed under the zone will come ashore at Portland and connect through the Heywood inter-connector to the Victorian grid.”

Rec Fish SA Executive Officer Asher Dezsery and Game Fishing Association of Australia Ian Bladin also raised concerns during the trip to Canberra about Bowen announcing on June 28 that consultation is underway for proposed wind farm zone changes applying to 5100 square kilometres offshore.

It is an environmental balancing act for Bowen, who said the rezoning could lead to the wind power industry creating numerous construction and ongoing jobs, and importantly, more green energy.

“Establishment of an offshore wind industry could support the decarbonisation and future of onshore manufacturing powered by cheaper, cleaner energy,” Bowen said when he announced the consultation.

“Powering these South Australian and Victorian communities with cheaper, cleaner energy will support them to unlock new regional job opportunities in energy and manufacturing.”

His department has since hosted two community information meetings – one in Mount Gambier and one in Port MacDonnell.

Grant Council covers Port MacDonnell and Mayor Kylie Boston flew to Canberra with the delegation, saying it was vital to ensure the future of 60 per cent of 8000 residents in the district working in the rock lobster, agriculture or forestry industries were protected.

“(We explain to locals) that these wind turbines will be larger than Port Schank, which is an extinct volcano between Mount Gambier and Port MacDonnell that is a hundred metres high,” she said.

Boston was forced to stand outside the packed information session at Port MacDonnell Football Club as locals spilled out of the rooms on August 3.

“We are worried about the local rock lobster industry but also the coastline, the reef environment and kelp bed environment and the Bonney upswelling phenomenon,” she said.

The region’s Bonney Upwelling only happens in 12 places in the world, in which nutrients are driven to warmer, higher water providing a vital food source to marine creatures. Locals fear it could be disrupted by offshore wind turbine developments.

And this Bonney Upwelling, combined with an elaborate system of limestone reefs and kelp beds, support a thriving population of Southern Rock Lobster and fish within the proposed zone.

“We don’t know how the numerous fish, plant and bird species will co-exist,” Boston said.

Third generation Port MacDonnell rock lobster fisher Jeremy Levins is among those worried about new offshore windfarm zones. Photo: supplied