Premier powers on with major projects
PREMIER Annastacia Palaszczuk has flicked the switch on a $400 million wind farm and talked up a $176 million expansion of the Cairns Convention Centre ahead of today’s Council of Australian Governments summit.
Ms Palaszczuk arrived at the Cairns Convention Centre yesterday, saying Far Northern state MPs had been “fighting hard” for the upgrade.
“We know this centre is unique. It brings in tourism, it brings in events and it brings in money to the local economy,” she said.
“This will complement the Global Tourism Hub, which is just across the road, and the … investment is an investment in jobs.
“It’s all systems go and I am quite sure there is going to be a big recruitment process over the next couple of months.”
She went on to the official opening of Mt Emerald Wind Farm, which she said had the potential to supply one third of the Far North’s energy needs by generating 500 million kilowatt hours of power.
“This is another major step towards a cleaner, renewable energy future for the state,” the Premier said.
Energy Minister Anthony Lynham and Member for Cook Cynthia Lui joined the Premier at the opening.
The project, comprising 53 massive turbines manufactured by Vestas, is playing a key part in the renewable energy boom.
The wind farm has a longterm contract to supply electricity to Ergon and is connected to the electricity grid via a new substation owned and built by Queensland’s publicly owned transmission operator, Powerlink.
Anthony Yeates, RATCHAustralia’s executive general manager for business development, said the Ergon contract was the major catalyst for the project
He said the company was proud of the wind farm, which completed commissioning over the past year.
“It’s now generating a significant quantity of safe, clean, renewable electricity for North Queensland,” he said.
The project will hold an open day tomorrow, which is already fully booked.
Member for Cook Ms Lui said the wind farm boosted the local economy during construction and was today contributing to the region’s renewable energy needs.
“It was great to see RATCH-Australia continuing to support the local community,” she said.