Developer turns its focus north
The renewable-energy developer responsible for establishing Ararat Wind Farm will now turn its full attention to a project on the Wimmera plains north of Horsham.
Renewable Energy Systems Australia chief operations officer Matt Rebbeck confirmed after an official launch of the Ararat farm yesterday that the company’s next priority was a similar project at Murra Warra.
“Murra Warra is our next major focus and we’re definitely looking forward to it,” he said.
Premier Daniel Andrews, Energy Minister Lily D’ambrosio, Federal Member for Wannon Dan Tehan and ACT Government, Environment and Heritage Minister Mick Gentleman all spoke at the Ararat opening.
RES Europe, the Middle East and Africa chief executive Marco Perona, Ararat mayor Paul Hooper and Ararat College year-12 student Gemma Hughes also addressed a large crowd at a site-office marquee.
Ararat Primary School student circus performers greeted a large media and dignitary gathering. Mr Andrews said the official opening of the wind farm reflected the State Government’s support for the renewable-energy sector and its ability to create jobs and deliver clean, green energy.
“We’ve been proud to back the Ararat Wind Farm every step of the way,” he said.
“We want Victoria to be at the forefront of renewable energy and the many jobs it will create.”
Miss Hughes perhaps had the most profound address of the launch, speaking about how she as a teenager perceived the advance of renewable-energy production.
“The potential for job opportunities in the community with the opening of this new development is endless,” she said.
“From the start of the design process it has employed locals. And until the end of its 25-year life span, it will employ members of our community.
“With the further investment of renewables, it is a phenomenal advancement.”
The $450-million 240-megawatt Ararat Wind Farm, the third largest in Australia, features 75 wind turbines on rural hill country near Ararat.
It is generating enough electricity to power the equivalent of 120,000 houses and is a major power supplier for the ACT.
Planning and groundwork for the Murra Warra project is well underway after project leaders gained planning consent in November last year.
Project manager Kevin Garthwaite said RES Australia was well advanced in complying with key elements of the planning process and the plan was to try to advance the project as quickly as possible.
He said he could not put an exact date on a potential start time for construction but expected it to be ‘in the near future’.
“There’s a lot of water to go under the bridge but it’s humming along and we’ve moved forward quite a way. Things are moving in the right direction,” he said.
“We’ve engaged a turbine supplier to work on the project and are undertaking considerable geotech work on site.”
The Murra Wurra project is larger than Ararat Wind Farm with more towers and larger turbines.
“It’s a very significant project for us,” Mr Garthwaite said.