Powering our city

Port Lincoln Times
05/09/2006 Page: 4

THE Cathedral Rocks wind farm at Sleaford has produced 137 million kilowatt hours since it was fully commissioned in September last year.

The wind farm has been powering Port Lincoln and surrounding areas with "clean green" electricity since the end of April 2005, when the first five turbines produced electricity and before all 33 turbines had been put up, according to facilities manager John Fannin.

"Ten turbines functioning at once would be enough to power Port Lincoln, and the remaining 23 would be enough to do Eyre Peninsula," he said.

While there had been times when all 33 turbines had-functioned at once, there were usually several decommissioned while the technology was fine tuned, Mr Fannin said. He said the testing and analysis of each turbine was an ongoing process.

"Routine testing and servicing of the turbines is continuing as part of the commissioning process, and recently another three electrical and mechanical service technicians have been employed at the site," Mr Fannin said.

"The eight full-time staff members currently working at the wind farm are all Port Lincoln locals." Other recent work at the site has been an upgrade of roads, access areas around turbines and buildings, and drainage works. "Local Port Lincoln companies were used to undertake this work.

'We've also had plumbers here hooking up three 25,000 litre water tanks to a two-inch CFS connection point, so the local CFS have access to the water to fight fires in this area."

While Mr Fannin has hosted visits of a few local community groups, including the Probus and Rotary Clubs, as well as school tours, there are no plans for tourism or regular tours of the site.

Mr Fannin said the community appeared to support the wind farm. "At the Tunarama Festival in February, the feedback was very positive with most people having seen the turbines and many people asking when they could visit."

Mr Fannin said environment work on the ground was also part of the wind farm's activities. He is carrying out pest, plant and animal control, with assistance from the Eyre Peninsula Animal and Plant Control Board and other local service providers.

Seeds from native plant species on the site was collected before construction began, and were used to re-generate the roads required for construction, to narrower access tracks used by maintenance vehicles.

"The regeneration of plants along the tracks is going well and we are pleased it hasn't taken that long to achieve," Mr Fannin said.