Projects to create jobs

Ballarat Courier
Saturday 25/8/2007 Page: 4

CONSTRUCTING wind farms in Lal Lal and Mt Mercer would create more than 200 new jobs, according to WestWind Energy. WestWind manager Grant Flynn said yesterday 100 fulltime jobs would be created during the two year construction phase for each project, with another 12 to 15 permanent operation and maintenance positions.

Mr Flynn said construction of the Mt Mercer wind farm project was expected to take place between 2009 to 2010 and construction of the proposed Lal Lal wind farm from 2011 to 2012. "We'll endeavour to use local contractors as much as we can throughout that work," he said. "Long terns positions are those of the employees required to do the operation and maintenance of the turbines themselves." WestWind decided to postpone lodging a planning application for the Lal Lal wind farm until December. Mr Flynn said the company would have preferred to submit an application by October, but was still working on layouts and plans for the Mt Mercer wind farm at the same time. "We'd prefer to get things right than stick to an airtight schedule," he said.

Mr Flynn said the recent closure of Portland's Vestas, which manufactured blades for wind turbines, would not impact on plans for WestWind's plans in the region. "We're looking at using Enercon turbines for the Mt Mercer wind farm." He said the generator components and blades were manufactured in Germany, but the towers would be made in Australia. WestWind is working on a revised layout for the proposed Lal Lal wind farm, which is expected to be ready for a community information session next month.