Fair wind for Mt Emerald

CONSTRUCTION on Queensland’s largest wind farm has reached its halfway point and jobs for the Tablelands development are due to be advertised shortly.

Ratch Australia has announced it has completed installation of the 27th turbine at Mt Emerald, near Walkamin.

To date, 52 of the 53 turbine foundations for the $360 million renewable energy project have been poured, and underground cables have been installed to more than half the construction site.

It is expected the turbines will be switched on in August. Full operation is on track for November.

Ratch business development manager Anthony Yeates said, despite the nearly 500mm of rainfall dumped in the area in March, the project was still nearing completion.

“Ratch has operated in the region for many years, so our construction schedule accommodated any wet season disruptions,” he said.

“There was little to no rainfall in April and May, so we’re now progressing full steam ahead.”

Once fully operational, the wind farm will deliver 540,000MW hours of renewable energy, which is predicted to meet the annual needs of about 75,000 northern Queensland homes over the next 20 years.

Mr Yeates said Ratch’s engineering, construction and procurement contractor Vestas would soon be advertising job opportunities that would become available in operations and maintenance.

He expected the project would reach new heights for renewable developments in Australia.

“The integration of procedures for cultural heritage, flora, fauna and unexploded ordnance surveys have created new challenges but are setting new benchmarks for future projects.”

Ratch has also expressed its interest in reviving the old High Road Wind Farm proposal, also on the Atherton Tablelands.

The 18-turbine project had been proposed for the Evelyn area – located about 10km north of Ravenshoe – about seven years ago, but it had been shelved.

RATCH HAS OPERATED IN THE REGION FOR MANY YEARS, SO OUR CONSTRUCTION SCHEDULE ACCOMMODATED ANY WET SEASON DISRUPTIONS