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Keen interest in windfarm development

Posted on June 2, 2009, 4:04pm and updated on June 3, 2009 at 3:32 pm

Andrew Thompson

Acciona Energy development director Andrew Thomson outside the Allendale East Public Hall.

Global energy, water and infrastructure giant Acciona has spent three years monitoring the wind in Allendale East district and is now preparing to lodge an application within months for a multi-million dollar green power project in the area.

The surrounding community had the opportunity to learn more about the proposed 47-turbine Allendale Wind Farm yesterday from leaders of the development.

A constant flow of people visited the town hall for the information day and those who spoke to The Border Watch said they were keen to learn more and expected the project would deliver significant benefits to the region.

Allendale East General Store proprietor John Lindquist said the spin-offs could be broad.

“The community is ready for a boost,” he said.

A farmer who asked not to be named said the 11 permanent positions that would be created if the wind farm proceeded could lead to families moving to or remaining in the region, which would boost student numbers at the area’s school.

He said payments to farmers for use of their land for towers could also add half a million dollars annually to the local economy.

“For the farmers, it would be a good legacy to leave your kids — having that money coming in regardless of whether they move away from farming,” he said.

Acciona Energy development director Andrew Thomson declined to confirm how much farmers would be paid for use of their land to host towers, but said it was significant and negotiations were continuing with the 11 landholders involved.

He said landholders would reap rewards from agreements with the company, while the towers would have little interference with ongoing farming.

“Agriculture is such an uncertain business with commodity prices changing all the time and the seasons up and down, so a reliable revenue stream is always welcome and this leaves a small footprint,” he said.

Mr Thomson said extensive specialist studies were well under way for various aspects of the project and the final design had been completed, with the 70.5MW wind farm expected to produce enough green power for 43,000 households, representing 1.5pc of the state’s energy needs.

He said a complete development application would be lodged with Grant District Council within months and it was hoped approval would be granted within four months, allowing a start to construction by the end of 2010.

“It is an exciting time,” Mr Thomson said.

He said up to 100 workers would be needed for the more than 12-months of construction, with a focus on local contractors, and 11 ongoing positions would be created.

The wind farm is planned 17.5km south east of Mount Gambier, 5km north of the coast.

Acciona is a Spanish-led consortium that has developed 195 wind farms in 13 nations, including Waubra Wind Farm near Ballarat — the biggest project of its type in the Southern Hemisphere — and won the contract this year to build and maintain Adelaide’s desalination plant.

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