By BLAKE METCALF-HOLT
CONSTRUCTION on the Delburn Wind Farm is underway.
As of last Wednesday (April 29), around 55 workers were on site as early works began, which included the building of compounds and facilities, road access development, plantation tree clearing and mulching, and early stage earthworks.
The area outside of Yinnar, Boolarra and Mirboo North will soon house the first 100 per cent government-owned wind farm in the country.
Minister for the State Electricity Commission (SEC) and Energy, Lily D’Ambrosio visited the site, meeting with workers, including nine local trainees and apprentices.
Ms D’Ambrosio referred to the the Delburn Wind Farm project as “a real beacon of what the future is.”
“Our government is committed to building the replacement (of) new electricity that we need, not only to keep the lights on as the ageing and less reliable generators exit the market, but ensuring that the good jobs come with the two,” she said.
“There is a bright future here for young people in the Latrobe Valley, in the Gippsland region, in these new projects.”
The Energy Minister spruiked that the return of the SEC has created around 1450 jobs, specifically apprentices, cadets and trainees, across the existing projects in the state.
“We are absolutely proud to have brought back the SEC, because the SEC is spearheading projects across our state that otherwise would not have been built,” she said.
“That’s more new, cheap, reliable electricity coming into Victoria, and those jobs that come with it.
“One of the purposes of the SEC is to be able to grow the skills amongst the local people and promote the opportunities for young people.”
SEC Executive General Manager, Assets, Lane Crockett thanked Ms D’Ambrosio and Member for Eastern Victoria Region, Tom McIntosh for marking the initial stages of true progress.
Mr Crockett explained the reasonings behind the project’s location and the need for wind generators.
“Wind, of course, is one of the lowest cost renewable energy generation in Australia today,” he said.
“It generates at all times of the day, so it’s highly complementary to solar power as well.
“It’s a unique place in the Latrobe Valley, because a lot of Victoria’s wind is based over in the west of the state, so having it here in the east (means it) is more available more often.”
Mr Crockett also reinforced that this project is not just about the energy it generates, but also the jobs and skills that come with it, ensuring that workers remain local.
When asked about recent traction from the state Coalition regarding the notion of extending brown coal’s life, Ms D’Ambrosio wanted more of an explanation from her opposition on what plans were in place.
“We know that a Liberal-Nationals government (is) already committed to killing off the SEC yet again,” she said.
“We’ve already had statements from Jess Wilson’s members of Parliament. Their statements are (to) forget renewables, extend the life of ageing … increasingly less reliable coal generators.
“They’ve served us really well for many decades, but they are getting old … there’s an end-of-life for every piece of engineering kit, no matter what its technology. If that’s your plan, and your plan is also to strain the planning rules around where new renewable energy projects can be built, effectively you’re saying that you’re not going to have anything more built in Victoria.”
