Cape wind farm building starts

Warrnambool Standard
Friday 29/12/2006 Page: 4

WORK has started on the Cape Bridgewater wind farm, with the contractor optimistic that development on another stage of the Portland Wind Energy Project will follow in 2007.

Pacific Hydro received final approval to start work on the site in early November but anxiously awaited the Victorian election result because of fears the Liberals' position on renewable energy would scuttle the project.

But with Labor retaining government, building company G.R. Carr Pty Ltd began works on laying the concrete foundations for 29 wind turbines before Christmas.

While it has delivered large industrial projects at the Port Campbell underground gas storage site and the Codrington and Yambuk wind farms, director Peter Carr said the $7-8 million contract was the largest the firm had secured.

He expects the concreting works will need about 75 direct and indirect employees, with some aspects subcontracted out for a mid-year completion.

The 58-megawatt development is expected to increase the workforce of wind tower manufacturer Keppel Engineering by about 20. Pacific Hydro is also building an interpretive centre at Cape Bridgewater.

G.R. Carr is contracted for the next stage of the $330 million Portland Wind Energy Project which will have 120 turbines along the far south-west coast at four sites including Yambuk.

Mr Carr hopes development at either the Grant or Nelson capes will start soon after they have finished at Bridgewater. Glenelg Shire Council this month reiterated its support for the Cape Bridgewater wind farm.