Golden Plains Wind Farm Community Update 22

Project Update Issue #22 DECEMBER 2023

At A Glance Community Update Community Grant Funding Community Reference Group Community Energy Program Community Energy Audit Off-site Landscaping Program Construction Update Progress Snapshot Industry Update

Welcome to the final edition of the Golden Plains Wind Farm Community Update for 2023 We had a wonderful time celebrating with everyone at the Rokewood Christmas Event recently. It was great to see so many members of the local community attend, enjoy the catering, take part in activities, meet Santa and discuss the project benefits and future opportunities.

We enjoyed chatting with people on the day and were delighted with the positive feedback received about the annual event and what this means to the community.

We’d like to thank everyone who took the time to complete our event survey. We’ll use the feedback to improve future events. Congratulations to Sharon from Dereel who is the lucky winner of the $100 gift voucher for completing the survey.

Here are some of the fantastic comments we received about the event: “Today was a fantastic day and such a highlight of my children's year.”

“The Santa gifts were beautiful and well thought out for their ages - thank-you. You provided a perfect day out for the community.”

“Thank you for everything you’ve brought to our small community in Rokewood.”

Community Update This year has seen great progress for the wind farm with initial construction underway, providing the opportunity for significant growth in the local region. We’ve seen major developments for several initiatives from the Community Benefits Scheme. These include two rounds of grant funding, the launch of the Community Energy Program and a number of successful home energy audits. We’ve also delivered two major community events – for Easter and Christmas – and supported other local activities.

Recently, we were pleased to announce we’ve relocated the project’s Community Office to the Hesse Health building in Rokewood on Thursdays. It’s open to everyone to drop by to share a cuppa and a chat.

We cannot thank the community enough for their support over 2023. If you have any queries, please contact Mark Bruty on 0491 617 649 or markb@w-wind.com.au.

Community Grant Funding The second round of community grant funding for 2023 was recently finalised. With a lot of great applications for this round, it was a difficult task selecting the recipients. Thanks to the CRG for their efforts on this. We are pleased to announce the successful recipients are:

$5,000 Hesse Health Multipurpose treatment chair & community garden upgrade $2,500 Leigh Seniors Senior bus trips and excursions $5,000 Golden Plains Rural Womens Network Dulcie Long Memorial $3,200 Rokewood Cricket Club Uniforms and equipment $4,300 Rokewood Tennis Club Junior participation initiative

Community Reference Group Thanks to the members of the Community Reference Group for their support and guidance across 2023.

Their insight into community needs has been invaluable as well as their help with allocating Community Grant Funding. The CRG helps ensure we provide the right support to the local area.

As we end this year, we say farewell to a couple of members and thank them for their time. In 2024, we look forward to welcoming new members.

Community Energy Program This year we began our partnership with Energy Locals to provide eligible residents with up to $1,600 off their annual energy bill. This has resulted in more than 30 households signing up and saving, and we look forward to helping more locals participate in the new year.

If you have not yet signed up to the program, you can access the information here: https://energylocals.com.au/golden-plains-wind-farm

Energy Audit Program To date, more than a dozen local residents have received a free energy audit from Geelong Sustainability.

These comprehensive assessments are aimed at providing greater understanding of your home’s energy efficiency as well as useful ideas about how to reduce running costs. Bookings for energy audits in 2024 will be available from 12 January so make sure to book in a time that suits. Book here: https://www.geelongsustainability.org.au/project/golden-plains-energy-audit-program/

Off-site Landscaping Program With a lot of planning in the background this year, we aim to secure the right supplier for this program in early 2024. We expect planting activity will commence shortly after, depending on weather conditions and plant success rates. In addition, several residents have chosen the financial payment option to deliver their own planting or other projects around the home. If you’re interested in this option, and haven’t spoken to Mark Bruty about it, please contact him.

Construction Update We’ve reached another great milestone this year with more than 50% of foundations now poured and the major components for 9 turbines already on site awaiting construction. Additional components are at GeelongPort ready to be transported to site, while major progress has also been achieved on the substations and switchyards required for the project.

In the coming year, we will see full turbines constructed and, around mid-year, the first overhead transmission lines will be installed. Once substations and collector circuits are completed, we will start to commission the first turbines toward the year’s end.

Major turbine components awaiting main crane installation

Trenching and circuit cable laying

Transformer installation at Golden Plains Eastern Collector Station (GPEC)

Components at Site

Progress Snapshot

Component

At Site

Installed

Tower section 1 (base)

14

14

Tower section 2

14

0

Tower section 3

13

0

79 sets of anchor cages installed

Tower section 4

13

0

Tower section 5

13

0

Steel reinforcement installed in 75 foundations

Tower section 6

18

0

Nacelle

9

0

74 foundation pours complete

Powertrain

13

0

Hub

20

0

56 foundations now backfilled

Blade

59

0

105 wind turbine sites excavated

80 blindings complete

Current Access Track Progress Clear/Strip topsoil Subgrade treatment Base Course and Pavement

Did you know?

From early next year, 3 specially sized cranes will be on site to install turbine top tower sections, nacelle and blades. This will typically take 9 days per turbine.

90 km of 102 km 84 km of 102 km 79 km of 102 km

89% 82%

76%

Base tower section installed and nacelle awaiting installation

Industry Update Farmers say climate change is biggest threat, renewables the best solution

By Liv Casben, Renew Economy, 13 December 2023 Climate change is the biggest threat to farmers according to more than 700 Australians working in the agriculture sector.

The online survey carried out by Farmers for Climate Action interviewed producers on the Australian government’s Net Zero Sector Plan for Agriculture and Land.

When asked about the single greatest threat to farming, more than half said climate change, 15 per cent said red tape, while only one per cent said transmission lines on farmland.

To read more on this please visit https://reneweconomy.com.au/renewables-hit-record-high-inaustralia-as-coal-power-and-grid-demand-hit-new-lows/.

Office 4 Nexus Centre, 17 Goode Street GISBORNE VIC 3437

info@goldenplainswindfarm.com.au

(03) 5421 9999

goldenplains.com.au

facebook.com/goldenplains