Moorabool Wind Farm is proud to support four local TAFE students with scholarships as part of its ongoing long-term community partnership program.
Tylah Freeman, Jake Mumford, Angelo Pereira and Leland Smith, who are all Moorabool district locals were awarded the annual Moorabool Wind Farm Scholarships, worth $3,000 per student to support the completion of their TAFE Certificate lll course.
“Moorabool Wind Farm is proud to award these four scholarships to Tylah, Jake, Angelo and Leland who are all Moorabool district locals undertaking their TAFE certification at the Ballarat Campus,” said Rob Brady, General Manager of Service at Goldwind Australia who own and operate the Moorabool Wind Farm.
“When applying for their scholarships, I was impressed with the strength of their applications and strong references they received. I was pleased to personally chat with them at the recent scholarships award event where they expressed their interest and passion in a career in wind energy – an important and growing industry in regional Victoria.
“We are pleased to see our local community continue benefitting from Moorabool Wind Farm’s community partnerships through funding, local sponsorships and community activities with more than $450,000 now provided to support worthy causes. The third round of the Community Fund is now open to local groups to apply for funding support.
“This important support will continue every year going forward for the life of the project to ensure that Moorabool Wind Farm continues to make a positive and enduring contribution to the local community,” added Rob.
Located approximately five kilometres south of Ballan and 27 kilometres south-east of Ballarat in Victoria, Moorabool Wind Farm is currently undergoing incremental output level testing to reach the project’s full registered capacity of 312MW in the coming months.
About 1,050,000MWh of renewable energy generated from the 104-turbine project will power the equivalent of 221,500 average Victorian homes annually, approximately 10% of Victorian households. Once operational, the project is expected to directly employ up to 20 permanent local staff to undertake site management, operation, and maintenance work.
Author: GWA_admin
8 September 2021
Moorabool Wind Farm today announced the support of eight community initiatives with more than $120,000 as part of its ongoing community funding.
Helen Kennedy, Community Engagement Manager for Moorabool Wind Farm said that it was pleasing to see the next round of the projects’ community fund distributed to projects and initiatives that help build strong and sustainable communities.
“A community fund assessment panel, made up of five locals from the Ballan, Mt Egerton and Morrisons areas reviewed submissions for funding for a number of projects and initiatives from community groups,” said Ms Kennedy.
“After much consideration, funding was allocated to eight of those initiatives that will make a positive and enduring contribution to our local community,” said Ms Kennedy.
Assessment panel representative Joy Price was pleased to see a range of local community organisations benefit from Moorabool Wind Farm Community Fund.
“Moorabool Wind Farm is a long-term project in our local area, and it is pleasing to see them support local initiatives and projects that contribute to a healthy, vibrant and sustainable community,” said Ms Price.
The eight local initiatives that have received full or partial funding for their projects or initiatives are:
- Fire Brigade Fire Fighting Equipment for the Mount Egerton Fire Brigade, Mount Egerton
- Sports, Recreation and Community Hub Kitchen Facility Upgrade at the Ballan Recreation Reserve, Ballan
- Ballan Station Native Grassland Project for the Ballan Stationeers, Ballan
- Two new trap houses for the Ballark and District Gun Club, Morrisons
- Energy efficiency upgrade at Gordon Public Park Hall at the Gordon Public Park Reserve, Gordon
- Nursery renovation to assist in landscape regeneration for the Moorabool Landcare Network, Glenmore
- Community social lunches for the Meredith Community Centre, Meredith
- Pedestrian Bridges for the Ballan Golf Club, Ballan
“Funding for the Ballan Station Native Grasslands Project helps us increase local habitat biodiversity and raise awareness of the importance of remnant grasslands within the community. We appreciate the support Moorabool Wind Farm is providing,” said Mike Vale, Ballan Stationeers Co-ordinator.
“Having a modern renovated kitchen at the Ballan Recreation Reserve is fantastic for the many local community members who will use this space. The committee is very grateful for the generous funding provided by Moorabool Wind Farm,” said Billy Smith, President Ballan Recreation Reserve Committee of Management.
Goldwind would like to thank the local volunteer community fund assessment panel for their help in this round of community fund submission assessments.
To date, Moorabool Wind Farm has invested more than $450,000 in the local community through its community funding, local sponsorships, and community partnerships.
Connection and hold point testing activities are now underway at Moorabool Wind Farm following completion of construction activities. Once fully operational, the 312MW Moorabool Wind Farm will produce emission-free energy to power approximately 228,000 Victorian homes and will employ about 20 permanent local staff to undertake site management, operation, and maintenance work.
More information on the Moorabool Wind Farm community funding can be found on the project website (www.mooraboolwindfarm.com/).
For further information, please contact:
Noel Lean, Communications Manager, Goldwind Australia +61 409 397 456
31 August 2021
Cattle Hill Wind Farm is pleased to announce the launch of their annual community fund that will see up to $120,000 worth of grants distributed each year benefiting many local community groups, foundations, clubs, and sporting associations.
Cattle Hill Wind Farm Operations and Maintenance Manager, Simon Williams, said the funding will help build strong and sustainable communities in the Central Highlands Government Area by providing part or full funding for causes and initiatives important to the local area.
“Cattle Hill Wind Farm is pleased to launch our annual funding that will financially support local community groups and organisations with their projects and initiatives that make a positive and enduring contribution to our local community,” said Mr Williams.
“Our annual community funding is part of our long-term partnership and support for the community where Cattle Hill Wind Farm operates.
“The yearly Cattle Hill Wind Farm community funding of $120,000, starting this year, will continue for the life of the project.
“All applications will be evaluated by a Community Fund Assessment Panel (CFAP) made up of six members including local community representatives and a representative from Cattle Hill Wind Farm.”
“We encourage local community groups to apply for funding for their projects and initiatives,” said Mr Williams.
Applications for the Cattle Hill Wind Farm Community Funding for 2021 closes 23 September.
Cattle Hill Wind Farm, now in its operational phase, currently employs nine full time local staff undertaking site management, operation and maintenance work.
The project was also recently recognised with the Clean Energy Council Innovation Award for its innovative avian aerial monitoring detection and control technology system called IdentiFlight that uses mounted optical units and computer algorithms to shut down wind turbines to avoid collision risk for the Tasmanian Wedge-tailed Eagle.
For more information on Cattle Hill Wind Farm’s community investment funding including selection and assessment criteria and details on how to apply, please visit www.cattlehillwindfarm.com/community
About Cattle Hill Wind Farm
Cattle Hill Wind Farm, located on the eastern shore of Lake Echo in the Central Plateau of Tasmania, is a 144MW 48-turbine renewable energy project that can power approximately 63,500 Tasmanian homes, about 5% of Tasmania’s renewable energy generation capacity, contributing to Tasmania’s goal of becoming fully self-sufficient with renewable energy by 2022. Co-owned by Powerchina and Goldwind, Cattle Hill Wind Farm was developed, constructed, and is now operated by Goldwind. For more about Cattle Hill Wind Farm, go to www.cattlehillwindfarm.com
For further information, please contact:
Noel Lean
Communications Manager
Goldwind Australia
+61 409 397 456
23 July 2021
Goldwind Australia today announced that Stockyard Hill Wind Farm, located 35 kilometres west of Ballarat in Victoria, has passed its first hold point test, and is now approved by the Australian Energy Market Operator
(AEMO) and Network Services Provider (NSP) to generate up to 30MW into the National Electricity Market (NEM).
“Stockyard Hill Wind Farm has now been registered at 286MW by the Australian Energy Market Operator and has passed the first hold point test,” said John Titchen, Managing Director of Goldwind Australia.
“The project will now proceed with the testing process at several incremental output levels. The process for registration at full capacity is also in progress,” said Mr Titchen.
“We are delighted to be witnessing the realisation of our hard work and planning. Stockyard Hill is a mammoth project that will be instrumental in providing sustainable energy to residences throughout the region,” said Khalid M. Jolo, CEO of Nebras Power.
Once operational, Stockyard Hill Wind Farm will power the equivalent of 425,000 Victorian homes and is expected to employ 25 permanent staff.
10 December 2020
Goldwind Australia today announced a major project milestone with the completion of installation of all 149 wind turbines at Stockyard Hill Wind Farm, located 35 kilometres west of Ballarat in Victoria.
Goldwind Australia’s Managing Director, Mr John Titchen said this was a significant event for the 530 MW project that once operational, will power more than 425,000 Victorian homes.
“Completing the installation of wind turbines at Stockyard Hill Wind Farm marks an important milestone achieved,” said Mr Titchen.
The Stockyard Hill Farm is a joint project between Goldwind Australia and Nebras Power, an international power investment company based in Qatar. Since construction commenced on the project in 2018, 149 wind turbines were installed, approximately 110 kilometres of access track was constructed, about 130 kilometres of underground cabling was laid, a 75 kilometre 132 kV multi-duplex powerline was installed, three on-site substations were completed, and a major terminal station near Lismore was built.
“We are excited to be witnessing the realization of our hard work and planning. Stockyard Hill is a monumental project that will be instrumental in providing sustainable energy to residences throughout the region,” said Khalid M. Jolo, CEO of Nebras Power.
Goldwind along with Nebras Power extended their gratitude to all of those involved in bringing the Stockyard Hill Wind Farm to this stage, including host landowners, local landowners, neighbours and community partners, as well as the contractors who worked on the project, many of whom are local Victorians.
Stockyard Hill Wind Farm currently employs a team of maintenance staff which is expected to grow to 25 permanent maintenance staff once the wind farm is operational.
Final commissioning and project completion activities will continue into early 2021.
4 December 2020
Goldwind Australia today announced the completion of installation of all 104 wind turbines at Moorabool Wind Farm, located approximately 25 kilometres south-east of Ballarat in Victoria.
Goldwind Australia’s Senior Project Manager, Dusan Hadzi-Nikolov said this was a significant milestone for the project that saw a high level of community involvement and local benefits.
“Moorabool Wind Farm saw up to 300 local and regional people employed during the construction phase and will see up to 20 permanent full-time maintenance roles once operational.”
“We are very pleased to continue partnering with the local community in delivering benefits over the operational life of the wind farm. Regular community fund grants are an example of this support, with the recent inaugural community fund grant seeing $125,000 distributed to 11 worthy local community groups,” said Mr Hadzi-Nikolov.
When fully operational, Moorabool Wind Farm will produce up to 312 MW of electricity, enough to power approximately 228,000 Victorian homes with emission free energy.
Commissioning and project completion activities are now underway on Moorabool Wind Farm.
9 November 2020
Goldwind Australia and TransGrid have signed a commercial agreement for the connection and construction of connection assets for Coppabella Wind Farm located in the Southern Tablelands of New South Wales, approximately 30 kilometres west of Yass.
Tom Nielsen, the Development Manager for Coppabella Wind Farm said the agreement was a significant step in finalising the development of the wind farm.
“We are pleased to once again work with our long-term partner TransGrid to construct the connection assets and to operate and maintain the connection for Coppabella Wind Farm.”
“TransGrid has a strong track record with Goldwind, having successfully delivered connection works on Gullen Range Wind Farm, Gullen Solar Farm, White Rock Wind Farm and White Rock Solar Farm,” said Mr Nielsen.
The project is expected to employ approximately 150 staff during the construction phase, and up to 15 permanent ongoing maintenance employees once operational. Coppabella Wind Farm is approved for up to 75 wind turbines that will produce approximately 900GWh per year of renewable energy to power more than 150,000 New South Wales homes.
10 September 2020
Goldwind Australia today announced the inaugural Moorabool North Community Fund grant distribution of $125,000 to 11 local community groups.
Dean Tonkin, the Site Manager for Moorabool Wind Farm said that it was pleasing to see the first round of the bi-annual community grants distributed to some worthy recipients.
“The selection panel, made up of members of the local Community Reference Group (CRG), reviewed more than 24 worthy applications from community groups. After considered and thoughtful debate, the selection panel have decided to allocate $125,000 to 11 community groups to fully or partially fund their local community initiatives.”
Moorabool Wind Farm CRG Chairperson Dave O’Hanlon was pleased to see the grants support and benefit a range of groups in the community.
“As the Chair of the CRG, I am very excited to see support being provided to so many groups across the wider community. This was the first round of grants provided under the Moorabool North Community Fund, and there were many great projects submitted. The CRG look forward to being involved with the fund and seeing more successful projects throughout the community, for many years to come.”
The 11 local community groups who received full or partial funding for their projects are:
- Meredith Community Centre,
- Ballan Cricket Club,
- Gordon Primary School,
- Advance Meredith Association INC,
- Ballan District Vintage Machinery and Vehicle Club,
- Gordon Public Park & Recreation Reserve Incorporated,
- Ballan Bowling Club,
- Ballan District Health and Care,
- Ballan RSL sub-branch,
- Gordon Football & Netball Club, and
- Ballan Golf Club Incorporated.
Gordon Primary School received full funding to upgrade their waste and recycling program, and Carly Middleton from the School was appreciative of the grant funding provided.
“This is a wonderful piece of news and a huge help for us as a school in achieving our goals. I appreciate the wonderful opportunity that Moorabool Wind Farm has provided through their community grants initiative.”
Goldwind would like to thank the Community Reference Group Assessment Panel for their help in reviewing the applications and allocating funding for the first round of the Moorabool North Community Fund grant.
The first round of bi-annual funding grants for Moorabool South Community Fund will be launched early next year. Further information will be provided on the project website (www.mooraboolwindfarm.com/) and advertised locally.
25 August 2020
Stanwell Corporation and the Queensland Government today announced a 348 MW Power Purchase Agreement for the 450MW first stage of the Clarke Creek Wind Farm.
Clarke Creek Wind Farm will be located 150 kilometres north west of Rockhampton and 150 kilometres south of Mackay in the Isaac and Livingstone Shire council areas.
“This Power Purchase Agreement is a clear demonstration of Stanwell Corporation and the Queensland Government’s commitment to the transition to a lower emission electricity sector. Stanwell is an excellent partner for the project and it has been a pleasure to work with the professional Stanwell team to progress this project which will bring substantial renewable energy investment and employment in regional Queensland. The Power Purchase Agreement is very important to enable engagement with investors and banks to progress to the construction phase which is targeted to commence in mid-2021.” said John Titchen, Managing Director of Goldwind Australia.
The 450MW project has been planned based on using 101 Goldwind wind turbines, with a 348MW section of the project supplying Stanwell under the Power Purchase Agreement.
Lacour Energy and Goldwind who have together developed the project launched the Local Business Participation Program for the project in December 2018. This Program is a key initiative to identify capability in the local community and maximise opportunities for local subcontractors and suppliers to participate in the project. The Industry Capability Network (ICN) gateway has been utilised to start engagement with local businesses with over 700 registrations to date. About 350 people are expected to be employed during construction.
“The PPA with Stanwell Corporation will allow the final steps in the development phase of the Clarke Creek Wind Farm to be completed so that construction can start in 2021. The project represents an excellent combination of strong, predominantly night-time wind to complement Queensland solar production. The project’s location is on the backbone of Powerlink’s high voltage transmission network and the project scale will make a large contribution to Queensland’s renewable energy target. Lacour Energy looks forward to continuing to work with all local stakeholders as we move to prepare for construction of the first-stage of the project.” said Mark Rayner, Director of Lacour Energy.
An information centre has been set up in Marlborough and a project office in Rockhampton to support the project with local community and business engagement activities. The COVID-19 situation has constrained use of the facilities in recent months.
The first stage of the project once built will power the equivalent of approximately 320,000 Queensland homes.
About Clarke Creek Wind and Solar Farm
The Clarke Creek Wind and Solar Farm project is located 150 km north west of Rockhampton and 150km south of Mackay in the Isaac Shire and Livingstone Shire areas. The project has received necessary State
and Federal Government approvals to develop:
– up to 195 wind turbines with a power output over 800 MW,
– between 200 MW and 400 MW of solar power, and
– battery energy storage.
The first stage of the project is planned to include 101 Goldwind wind turbines totalling 450MW.
For more on the project, go to www.clarkecreekwindandsolar.com.au
19 August 2020
The final over-dimensional load – a tower section from Keppel Price Engineering has arrived at Stockyard Hill Wind Farm.
Stockyard Hill Wind Farm Investment Delivery Manager, Mr Justin Howes, said the milestone was significant and marked the end of all over-dimensional component deliveries.
“The final over-dimensional delivery was a tower component from Keppel Price Engineering based in south-western Victoria who locally manufactured and delivered 140 tower sections for Stockyard Hill Wind Farm.”
“Over the past two years, the project team has managed more than 1,600 over-dimensional wind turbine component deliveries including 140 tower sections from Keppel Price Engineering and 17 overseas shipments. Each shipment consisted of more than 50,000 cubic meters of cargo that was delivered safely to site,” said Mr Howes.
Keppel Prince Engineering Executive Director, Mr Steve Garner said he was pleased to partner with Goldwind in delivering one of the largest wind farms in Australia.
“This is a significant project for Victoria, and it was pleasing to have our Victorian company support the project with local jobs and industry expertise that in turn supports our local communities.”
“It was a proud moment to see the final tower section for Stockyard Hill Wind Farm leave our engineering workshop that signalled the completion of over 85,000 labour hours worked by more than 150 of our Victorian employees,” said Mr Garner.
Construction and commissioning work is continuing on Stockyard Hill Wind Farm with more than 75% of the 149 wind turbines now installed.