Australia
Taralga Wind Farm
The Taralga wind farm will generate pollution-free electricity that will make a significant contribution to a cleaner environment. It will generate more than 300 GigaWhours of electricity every year, which is equivalent to the annual demand of approximately 40,000 homes. Annual emissions savings as a result of the wind farm will be 250,000 tonnes of CO2 equivalent (the main greenhouse gas) every year, helping to tackle the threat of global warming. The wind farm will produce local, home-grown, safe and secure power from an everlasting resource, thereby reducing losses in the electricity system and increasing our national energy security.
Wind monitoring has been underway on the site for more than 10 years. RES Southern Cross became involved in 2001 and the project received Development Approval from Land and Environment Court in February 2007 for 62 three bladed wind turbines with a substation and site access tracks. Each turbine will have a generating capacity of approximately 2-3MW, providing approximately 124 - 186MW in total. The project is located on ridges to the east of Taralga with the closest turbine to the village being more than 3km distant. Most turbines are 5km or more from the village. The connection to the national electricity network will be at the Marulan substation.
Project Benefits
The project will provide an economic boost to the Taralga region.
A workforce of up to 40 will be required during the construction period. RES Southern Cross has a policy of using local contractors and suppliers wherever possible. These will include concreting, earthmoving, tradespeople, transport, fencing etc. RES Southern Cross has a database of local businesses that have registered to assist us.
Landowners involved in the project will receive a new reliable source income. Experience shows that the local economy stands to benefit as this new income is spent in the local economy. Operators of local businesses reliant on tourists are also likely to benefit significantly from the wind farm.
RES Southern Cross has also recognised the need to do something positive about the poor television reception in the village. We have decided to improve reception by installing a new $100,000 television re-transmitter on the ridge when we build the wind farm. The re-transmitter will pick up the signal from Wollongong and transmit to the village. People in Taralga village will receive a much better signal when the tower is in place.
Tell us what you think
We would like to hear your views on the project. Please emailOr alternatively you can contact Colin Liebmann, with your comments:
RES Southern Cross
PO Box 1274, Crows Nest,
New South Wales 1585
Phone 02 9431 7600
Background
RES Southern Cross used rigorous evaluation processes for selecting Taralga as a site for a wind farm. The phases of investigation included consideration of technical, commercial and environmental constraints and consultation with the landowners and community.
Initial site identification and consideration involved an assessment of possible sites in a number of regions in New South Wales against environmental, technical and economic constraints. In the Southern Tablelands a number of locations were assessed. Most sites were rejected during initial desk studies, while others were dropped following site inspections and more detailed examination. The process of initial site selection, feasibility study and detailed assessment ultimately led to the selection of Taralga as a high potential site. Feasibility studies included the preparation of a very detailed Environmental Impact Statement to support the development application.
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Timetable 2001 February 2007 Construction commences |
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