White Rock Wind Farm donates shipping containers to NSW Rural Fire Service

White Rock Wind Farm

12 July 2017
White Rock Wind Farm has donated 45 shipping containers to the NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS). The NSW RFS will use the containers for fire training and service provision across the district.

“The NSW RFS volunteers generously give their time to not only fight fires, but to help prepare the community before and during bush fire season. The men and women of the NSW RFS remain on-hand 24 hours a day, seven days a week to help people during times of emergency. We are very proud to assist them to deliver their invaluable services to the community.” said Sandra Royal, Local Representative for White Rock Wind Farm.

Superintendent Chris Wallbridge said the NSW RFS is very grateful for the donation, with the containers to have a number of different uses including hot fire training centres, aviation support and storage.
The Northern Tablelands RFS is coordinating the transfer of the containers from White Rock Wind Farm right across Region North, into the Hunter Valley and Sydney. Two 20 foot containers will be fitted out at Wyong for the State Championship equipment, allowing for easy shipping around the state for local and state field days for many years to come.
At airports across the region some containers will be used to support RFS aviation fire-fighting at specially built airbases. These containers will provide control rooms, secure storage of equipment, bulk foam and retardant.

“Air bases within Region North to receive containers include Coonabarabran, Tamworth, Armidale, Casino, Coffs Harbour, Inverell and Glen Innes.” said Supt. Wallbridge.

“Containers will be also be used to construct hot fire training facilities across the region and for the Northern Tablelands Team. These special built units allow volunteer fire fighters to train and test their skills for structure fires in a real-life environment, which while very hot and smoky has safety features built in.”
“The ability to provide safe and realistic hot fire training areas locally for our volunteers will greatly increase their skills and knowledge”

Construction of stage one of White Rock Wind Farm commenced in May 2016 and is aimed to be complete by late 2017. At peak construction periods, the number of on-site construction staff has reached approximately 300 people. Forty-seven turbines have now been erected on the project site. The first turbines were connected to TransGrid’s transmission network and commenced producing electricity in July 2017.