Work ramps up at wind farm

Portland Observer
Monday 11/2/2008 Page: 3

MOTORISTS using Bridgewater Rd, to or from Cape Bridgewater, may experience delays from tomorrow as work on Pacific Hydro's Portland Wind Energy Project ramps up. Over-sized trucks are expected to start transporting the first of 29 wind turbines and sections of a 500 tonne crane to the Amos Rd site. The 500-tonne Liebherr tower crane, which arrived at the Port of Portland last week from Scotland, is one of only three 500-tonne cranes in Australia.

It will be assembled on site at the Stage Two Cape Bridgewater section of the PWEP. Meanwhile, it remains unknown whether UK-based company WindHoist will extend and expand its operations in Portland longer than the expected four-and-a-half months scheduled.

WindHoist has a temporary office in the city. However, the company's project foreman in Portland, Shane McGorry, told the LaTrobe Valley Express last month it was hoped to extend WindHoist to Australia... ."..so part of our job will be to train up some Australians." "Wind turbines are relatively new to the Australians, so we will hope to share some of our knowledge with the Australian workers," he said.