Wind farm generates more than power

Plains Producer
Wednesday 21/2/2007 Page: 9

A wind farm stretching 17 kilometres along the Barunga Range is expected to generate $1 million each year back into the Snowtown community, and the world's biggest crane on rubber wheels will be needed to help construct it.

Rodney Ahern, business development manager of TrustPower, who will build the wind farm, confirmed the community could expect huge benefits.

More than 120 people attended a public meeting at Snowtown last Thursday to discuss the development, where they were told the community could expect to benefit from an additional $1 million within the community through increased employment, accommodation, and fees paid to land owners.

The turbines will be built by Suzlon Energy Australia, and Suzlon project manager Peter Reed explained to those attending the meeting where the wind farm would be located, with turbines about 500 metres apart.

He detailed how the wind farm would be constructed, and said the world's biggest crane on rubber wheels would be needed to lift the 75 tonne generator nacelle into position. When complete, each turbine will weight 270 tonnes, with 44 metre long blades each weighing seven tonnes.

Mr Reed expects 30 to 50 per cent of the wind farm workforce to be local, and employment during construction would peak at 90 and average 70. Construction will require plant operators, fencing and stock grids, concrete workers, carpenters and steel fixers. Accommodation will be required for 30 to 40 workers. When construction is complete by September 2008, ongoing maintenance will require four to six specialist technicians.

Following the meeting, a number of locals registered for work or as an accommodation provider, and Mr Reed said Suzlon would be happy to arrange training for equipment operators who may be experienced but not have the right formal qualifications.

Snowtown Community Management chairman Paul McCormack said he was thrilled with the turnout at the meeting, and the interest shown in the project.

"There were a number of interested bodies there hoping to tap into some part of the project," Mr McCormack said. He sees accommodation opportunities as being a big advantage for the community during construction, with workers likely to stay at hotels, motels and private rental accommodation.

Mr McCormack joked the only disappointing thing about the project was the average age of workers at the company's Hallett wind farm was 42.

"How the heck am I going to get a football team if the average age is 42," he said. "I was hoping for a couple of big ruckmen." The meeting was attended by people from Snowtown, Lochiel, Redhill, Bute, Mundoora and Crystal Brook.