The NSW member for Northern Tablelands, Adam Marshall, visited the sprawling Sapphire Wind Farm on the Kings Plains last week and talked of a “sense of wonder”. He was in awe of the project and its progress.
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He said progress at the wind farm was at “fever pitch” as the skyline between Glen Innes and Inverell was being transformed by huge cranes and turbines.
With all 75 foundations for the turbines poured and almost half of the structures above now rising, Mr Marshall said progress was becoming increasingly visible.
“All the groundwork has been laid, and now the exciting parts of construction are beginning to take place,” the politician said.
“Last time I visited the Sapphire Windfarm, crews were busy pouring hundreds of tonnes of concrete, hanging thousands of kilometres of power lines and organising dozens of component shipments from Newcastle.
“Now the project is picking up pace, with Australia’s first two 500-tonne cranes lifting up a new tower section every half hour.
“Just eight months ago I stood 10 metres below the ground atop the newly completed foundation of Turbine 26. Now construction soars 50 metres into the sky and I can’t wait to come back in a few weeks to see it completed.”
So far, project managers CWP Renewables have completed 46 kilometres of roadway, 640 kilometres of cabling and 28 high-voltage power poles.
Mr Marshall said he continued to be impressed by the sheer scale of the logistical undertaking of building what he called megastructures “off the beaten track”.
“Locals have no doubt seen many freight trucks snaking their way up the New England Highway, with each turbine requiring 10 truckloads of components before it’s completed.
“The build is moving like a well-oiled machine, with each of the 162 workers and contractors an essential component,” Mr Marshall said.
“Whether they’re preparing towers, carefully lifting 70 metre blade sections or wiring the on-site substation, each worker is putting money back into the local economy.
“When all 75 turbines are completed in August this year, the Sapphire Wind Farm will generate enough electricity to power 115,000 homes each year.”
Standing beneath one of nine completed turbines, the local MP said the 200-metre high generators gave a “sense of wonder” to renewable energy.
“These structures are an incredible blend of form and function and I’m proud to see them rapidly appearing across our region’s skyline”.