An announcement
made by the Victorian Government
highlighted on the construction of what could be Australia’s largest wind farm.
In attendance to mark the beginning of construction, were Premier Daniel
Andrews and Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change the Hon Lily
D’Ambrosio MP. Stockyard Hill Wind Farm will see 149 turbines provide 530 MW of
clean energy to more than 340,000 households.
Western Victoria is about to become known
as having Australia’s biggest wind farm. The construction on the Stockyard Hill
Wind Farm has commenced. Both Premier Daniel Andrews and Minister for Energy,
Environment and Climate Change the Hon Lily D’Ambrosio MP were there to visit
the massive wind farm project near Beaufort in order to mark the start of construction.
Located approximately 35kms west of
Ballarat, the wind farm is being developed by Goldwind and will see 149
turbines provide 530 MW of clean energy to power more than 340,000 households
across Victoria and even beyond. It has the potential to harness one of
Victoria’s best wind resources and will provide substantial environmental,
community and economic benefits.
Stockyard Hill Wind Farm will also provide
a major boost for the local economy. For its construction alone, it will be
delivering 300 jobs. Once the farm is complete, it may employ up to 25
permanent maintenance staff. Not only that, it will be injecting more than A$5
million into the local economy each year.
The project is located within an
agricultural district, with the majority of the site being used largely for
grazing and cropping.
The Victorian Government have supported the
wind farm industry. Projects such as Stockyard Hill have been made possible
thanks to their efforts which brought back the clean energy sector as well as
creating more jobs across regional Victoria.
The Victorian Government changes have seen
the wind farm industry power ahead with projects underway or proposed at Lal
Lal, Moorabool, Murra Warra, Bulgana and Golden Plains.
Ever since their term began, 8 wind farms
that are worth A$1.07 billion have been built. This crated more than 2300
construction jobs. There are more to come as another set of 9 new wind farms
are being constructed. They are worth A$3.2 billion.
With its Victorian Renewal Energy Target of
25% by 2020 and 40% by 2025, the Victorian Government is giving the renewable
energy sector the confidence it needs. More new projects will be invested in,
thereby producing more jobs.
This move delivered the prosperity that the
state of Victoria deserves. Moreover, it has improved on electricity prices,
hoping this will put downward pressure and help bring the prices down.
Premier Daniel Andrews said, “We’re backing
Victoria’s booming renewables industry every step of the way. The Stockyard
Hill project will not only deliver the clean energy we need but will help power
new jobs in Western Victoria.”
He added, “We’re putting Victoria at the
forefront of renewable energy and supporting the thousands of jobs it’s creating.”
Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate
Change Lily D’Ambrosio said, “The Stockyard Hill Wind Farm is another fantastic
project that will boost supply and support even more jobs in the booming clean
energy sector.”
