Highlands wind farm deal signed

TASMANIA’S electricity utility has signed off on an agreement with an international wind turbine manufacturer to build a wind farm in the state’s Central Highlands.

TasNetworks and Goldwind yesterday signed the connection agreement for the $300 million Wild Cattle Hill wind farm project, near Waddamana.

The agreement sets out the conditions through which the infrastructure is able to successfully connect to TasNetworks’ transmission network, with the wind farm to generate 144MW.

The construction of the wind farm, which consists of up to 49 turbines, is scheduled to start early next year. Completion is expected by 2019.

TasNetworks said the wind farm would contribute to Tasmania’s energy security and increase the state’s renewable energy generation capacity by more than 5 per cent — meeting national targets.

The project is expected to create 150 jobs during construction, with the farm to employ up to 10 permanent maintenance staff when fully operational.