CONSTRUCTION of the Crudine Ridge Wind Farm is already benefiting the local community, CWP Renewables project director Brendan McAvoy says.
The wind farm, located 45 kilometres south of Mudgee, recently moved from development to construction phase and is expected to become operational in late 2019.
During construction, 37 wind turbines, new roads and other associated infrastructure will be built on site.
Mr McAvoy said hundreds of people would be employed during the construction process.
“The project is aiming to engage as many of the 240 positions from the local community as possible,” he said.
“Although the project is still early in the construction phase, of the 45 employees who are currently engaged on the project 24 are from the local area.”
Further positions have been advertised in recent weeks, Mr McAvoy said, including for CWP Renewables and its delivery partners.
“These positions include, senior HSE positions, project administrators, communications and engagement roles, civil project engineers, civil supervisors and graduate engineers,” he said.
“People interested in being a part of the project are encouraged to visit job sites such as Seek for currently advertised roles.”
“The $3 million in contracts awarded to date include: earthworks and civil packages, electrical works, fencing, water infrastructure establishment, labour hire and craneage.”
CWP Renewables project director Brendan McAvoy
Mr McAvoy said $3 million in contracts have already been awarded to Mudgee region businesses for the project.
“The contracts awarded to date include earthworks and civil packages, electrical works, fencing, water infrastructure establishment, labour hire and craneage,” he said.
Mr McAvoy said the wind farm project would be delivered in two phases – construction then operations.
“Those workers engaged during the construction phase will handover the wind farm to the operations team,” he said.
“Approximately six full-time staff will be engaged to operate the wind farm, these will be locally based.
“There will also be ongoing contracts to local suppliers for cleaning, building service maintenance, fencing and other services.”
What is involved in the construction process?
THE project consists of constructing 37 wind turbines which will reach a maximum height of 160 metres from foundation to the uppermost blade tip.
The project will see 50 kilometres of new internal access roads constructed, along with internal electrical reticulation, temporary construction compounds, rock crushing facilities, a concrete batching plant, a substation, an operations and maintenance facility, approximately 15km of overhead transmission line and a switching station.
There will also be upgrades to public roads, including a 20km stretch along Aarons Pass Road.
To minimise impacts to the community and environment materials are being sourced on site, reducing the number of truck movements on public roads.
Source: Nadine Morton, Mudgee Guardian, 15 October 2018
