Category: News 2021

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.