STATE Member for South West Coast Roma Britnell has weighed in to the offshore wind farm debate, asking if governments can be relied on to do the right thing by the community.

Ms Britnell was in Portland on Friday to talk to opponents of the proposed offshore wind farm zone.

They shared concerns on issues ranging from the protection of wildlife to the delivery (or not) of hard copy pamphlets from the federal government with information on the survey that will become public submissions.

Ms Britnell told the Observer the feeling she got is the community was sceptical of how the process would unfold.

“My biggest concern I think is that I don’t trust the process,” she said.

While referring to the state government in particular (the zone is a federal process, but the offshore wind farm industry will be a joint state-federal concern), Ms Britnell said there had been too much evidence produced in recent months by the likes of Robert Redlich, the former head of the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission, of a lack of information and transparency.

“I think their vision is clouded by their desire to achieve electoral success,” she said.

“And they’ve forgotten that the environment is what our community and the community of Melbourne actually care a lot about.”

Ms Britnell also stressed to community members the need for evidence-based submissions to the federal government.

● A local group opposed to the proposed offshore wind farm zone will hold another public meeting on Thursday.

Wild West Marine Alliance has organised an event at the Portland Yacht Club from 7pm.

Speakers will include renowned local blue whale researcher Peter Gill, Ben Druitt of the Save the Bight group, local primary school science teacher Bella Voulgaris and Joanne Cassar, the organiser of a planned rally to take place on the water and land soon.

● VicGrid, the Victorian Government body coordinating the transmission of the energy that would be generated from any offshore wind farm projects, is holding community drop-in sessions in Portland tomorrow.

The sessions – feedback from which VicGrid said would help it determine any transmission route – will be at the Civic Hall, the first between 10.30am and 12.30pm and the second between 4pm and 6pm.

For more information and to register to attend visit engage.vic.agov.au or call 1800 418 341.

● Submissions on the proposed zone close on August 31 – to fill out the survey or for more information visit consult.dcceew.gov.au/oei-southern-ocean.