Project gets off to dusty start

THE Ross River Solar Farm development has come under fire just two weeks after its preliminary works have begun, with locals complaining about excessive dust.

The 148MW project is on track to finish by mid- 2018 and is expected to generate power for more than 54,000 homes.

However a local resident, who asked to remain anonymous, said she had lodged complaints to Townsville City Council about the dust.

“Since the rain, it’s nice but before that you would have just sheets of dust being blown across,” she said.

“It was that bad you were getting hit with dirt on your veranda, on your face and no one was stopping it.”

The resident said she contacted the council on October 6 but did not get a response until October 13. She said the council had told her Downer Utilities – the project’s engineering, procurement and construction contractor – had been told to stop work at the site.

“The trucks started back up again on Saturday ( October 14) and big mulchers and excavators were there,” she said.

“It had been a mango farm for 30 years. There would have been lots of pesticides.”

A spokesman said the council was aware of the complaints.

Environmental officers attended the farm yesterday to discuss the issue with builders.

A Ross River Operations spokeswoman said the project took its environmental and community obligations seriously.

“A Construction and Environment Management Plan has been developed by Downer to eliminate or reduce these impacts – including dust – as much as practically possible,” they said.

“Ross River Operations and Downer Utilities are continuing to work with council planning in regards to construction activities on site and the temporary impacts these may be causing.”

DOMANII CAMERON