Reaping the wind powers new jobs

Adelaide Advertiser
Tuesday 3/2/2009 Page: 38

THE Southern Flinders Ranges has emerged as the windfarm capital of Australia, providing a serious windfall with a surge in jobs and economic activity. The region's windfarms are expected to approach a similar capacity to the Torrens Island Power Station and Port Augusta within the next few years. Southern Flinders Regional Development Board chief executive Mark Malcolm said the Southern Flinders, Yorke Peninsula and Mid North regions had proved an ideal location for the current wave of wind farm investment.

The north-south running ranges that capture good wind and are close to the ElectraNet high voltage grid running from Port Augusta to Adelaide have been important factors in its success. The region has four windfarms which extend into its boundaries: AGL Hallett 1 and 2, TrustPower at Snowtown and Pacific Hydro has just started the Clements Gap Wind Farm. Transfield is also well advanced on its Barn Hill proposal between the Snowtown and Clement's Gap.

Mr Malcolm said that 311 MWs of power had been installed or was under construction with a further 126 MWs approved ready to start. He estimates that with projects in the pipeline, that amount could double in the next few years.

"Adelaide people would be really surprised at the growth and size of the industry," Mr Malcolm said. "It's a really good news story for SA because this is where its happening in Australia and the industry has taken us all by surprise." Mr Malcolm said the Port Pirie economy had experienced significant growth in the past few years. "We've just enjoyed the three best years in Port Pirie for three decades, but we are realistic about growth prospects for 2009 due to the continuing drought and the global financial situation" he said.

"From 2002-2008 we halved our unemployment rate and we've had the highest property development rate for decades." Nyrstar Ltd, the world's largest lead smelter, continues at full production despite a serious downturn in the resource sector, he said. "A big part of our economy is agriculture which is struggling under the effect of drought," he said. "A return to average production this year will help buffer the downturn in other parts of our economy.

"Long-term, the future for the north of the state looks terrific once the economy picks up and things get started again." Mr Malcolm said the Port Pirie and Southern Flinders Ranges economy was a little more diverse than the Whyalla and Port Augusta economies because it didn't rely so much on the mining sector.