NEWSLETTER SEPTEMBER / 2021 / ISSUE #15 WELCOME & PROJECT UPDATE Welcome to Issue 15 of the Golden Plains Wind Farm Newsletter. First and foremost, the team at Golden Plains Wind Farm hope you are staying safe during these challenging times. The uncertainty and ever changing COVIDSafe requirements can be unsettling, but we can all take comfort in knowing we are doing our bit to help keep everyone safe as we work to push through this latest wave as quickly as possible. While activity on-site has been limited recently, our team have been making great progress behind the scenes including some exciting updates on the selection of our electrical and civil balance of plant contractors. MPC Kinetic will deliver the civil balance of plant (roads, foundations, hardstands) and Consolidated Power Projects will deliver the electrical balance of plant (reticulation network and internal collector station). It will come as no surprise that the contract negotiation process takes time, but we are very pleased with the progress made to date. This progress allows us to look ahead to an important element of any infrastructure project – engaging with industry. You can read more about our industry briefing in this update, including information on how to register if you are a small/ medium enterprise or independent contractor. We understand that the Minister for Planning’s delegates have finalised their report on our application to amend the Planning Permit. We are hopeful to have a decision from the Minister on the amendment in the coming weeks and we will share the decision as soon as it is known. We also look forward to opening our next round of our Community Benefit Funding. Once again there is $10,000 available for community-based initiatives, projects and events that benefit our local communities. You can read more about this next round within this newsletter. As always, we invite you to get in touch with us with any questions you have about the Golden Plains Wind Farm project. While we continue to limit our face-to-face interaction to minimise any Covid risk to the community, our team is still available during this time via phone, email and video conferencing so please don’t hesitate to reach out if we can be of any assistance.
GOLDEN PLAINS WIND FARM INDICATIVE TIMELINE *Timeline is indicative and represents best case scenario and is subject to change.
2005 - 2015
Pre-Feasibility & Wind Monitoring Landholder Commitment & Option Agreement. Site Boundary Confirmed. Wind Monitoring Indicative Turbine Layout.
2016 - 2017
Project Feasibility Optimisation of Turbine Layout. Environmental Studies. Planning Studies. Grid Studies. Cultural Heritage. Visual Impact Studies.
LATEST ON-SITE ACTIVITIES • Drier conditions have assisted with the site access required to modernise our geotech boreholes with logger equipment. This will allow us to source information on the physical properties of the soil ahead of earthworks and foundations for structures. • Seasonal environmental site studies are currently being undertaken, with ecologists assisting our team to perform flora and fauna surveys. • Cultural Heritage salvage works are scheduled for late September and early October. These works ensure the protection of Aboriginal cultural heritage, with the contextual information and analysis of the material obtained through this recovery adding to the Registered Aboriginal Party’s collective knowledge. If you have any questions, please contact WestWind Energy on 03 5421 9999 or at info@goldenplainswindfarm.com.au.
VIRTUAL INDUSTRY BRIEFING We are committed to maximising industry engagement with our community, no matter how big or small a business may be. As part of this commitment, we are hosting a virtual industry briefing on Wednesday 22 September 2021. Along with our primary contractors, we will present to businesses an update on the Project and provide information on the civil and electrical work packages that will become available for tendering. There has been great interest from industry for the Golden Plains Wind Farm, with 703 expressions of interest registered through the Industry Capability Network – the most of any project. Interested businesses can register to attend the virtual industry briefing by visiting www.goldenplainswindfarm.com.au/industry-briefing.
Join our virtual industry briefing on Wednesday 22 September 2021
2017 - 2018
2018 - 2022
Environment & Planning Approval Planning Permit Application. Community Consultation. Environmental Referrals. Environment Effect Statement.
Detailed Design & Securing Finance Design & Drawings. Project Costing. Securing Investment. Pre-construction approvals. Grid connection agreement.
2022 - 2051
Construction & Operation Ground Breaking. Civil & Electrical Works. Turbine Installation & Commissioning.
$4,700
$24,850
Community Events
$120
$33,750
,000
Local Sporting Clubs
$18,250
Rokewood Newsletter
$14,850
Local Schools and Kindergaten
$500
Local Family Donation
Local Recreation Reserves
$9,500 $9,450
Local CFAs
Local Community Halls
$1,500
Rokewood Corindhap Planning Group
$2,200
Rokewood Returned & Services League
$450
Rokewood Playground
COMMUNITY BENEFIT FUND The Golden Plains Wind Farm Management (GPWFM) Community Benefit Fund has been established to provide financial sponsorship for a range of community-based initiatives, projects and events that benefit local communities. The objective of the Fund is to provide financial support to not-for-profit community groups and organisations that are working to make a positive and lasting contribution to regional communities within and around the Golden Plains Wind Farm. Since 2019, the Golden Plains Wind Farm has provide community funding and hosted events valued in excess of $120,000. The most recent round of community funding supported projects including planning for large-scale public art in Cressy, a new computer for the Rokewood Newsletter and electrical upgrades for Illabrook Hall. Applications for the second round of the 2021 community funding are open from 4 October to 12 November with a total pool of $10,000 available. Applications will now be able to be completed on our website, with an online application form available from 4 October at www.goldenplainswindfarm.com.au/community. If you have any questions, or need further information please contact us at 03 5421 9999.
Over $6.5 million will be donated to the community through the life of the project.
GOLDEN PLAINS WIND FARM IN THE COMMUNITY SEPTEMBER CHARITY CHALLENEGE The GPWF team are taking part in STEPtember to raise money to support people living with cerebral palsy. Every 20 hours, an Australian child is diagnosed with cerebral palsy. Cerebral palsy is the most common physical disability in childhood. It’s caused by damage to the developing brain either during pregnancy or shortly after birth – directly affecting a person’s movement and posture for life. STEPtember is a fun and inclusive virtual event that will see the WestWind team challenged to walk, swim, ride, wheel or spin our way to 10,000 steps per day during the month of September – all while helping to improve the lives of children and adults who live with cerebral palsy. Support our STEPtember challenge by donating today at www.steptember.org.au/fundraisers/westwindenergy. Together, we can make a real difference – one step at a time!
ROKEWOOD CHRISTMAS EVENT We are all looking forward to Christmas, and we are excited to be planning a GPWF community Christmas Event for Sunday 5 December 2021. Details will be publicised as we get closer to December, so make sure to mark the date in your calendar and keep a look out for an invitation to what will surely be a great day.
GOLDEN PLAINS WIND FARM FACEBOOK We’ve heard community feedback over recent months and are pleased to let you know that we have started a new Facebook page dedicated to the Golden Plains Wind Farm. Our current WestWind Energy Facebook page will remain and focus on a wider range of content relating to our business. The new Golden Plains Wind Farm page is dedicated to our project and will be a home for project specific updates. We also look forward to sharing the great people and stories from the Rokewood and district community on this page. Visit www.facebook.com/GoldenPlainsWindFarm and be sure to ‘like’ our page!
Golden Plains W i n d Fa r m COMMUNITY REFERENCE GROUP Pam Bailey
Margaret Bufton
Peter Clifton
Benjamin Cook
Suzanne Kirby
Carolyn Rankin
Halleshia Rumler
Jo Sibbison
Sophie Whitlock
Bryan Vincent
Pam believes in community and that with so many people who say that ‘someone should do something’ about various local causes/problems, that she should be that ‘someone’. Pam is also the Secretary of the Rokewood RSL and is on the Collection Advisory Committee of the Geelong Regional Library Heritage Centre. A community leader for over 20 years, Peter brings many skills to the CRG. Peter’s community involvement includes many years with the Rokewood CFA and Leigh Group of Brigades, Rokewood Recreation Reserve Committee, as well as over 20 years as Principal of Magpie Primary School. Peter is a committed advocate for the community and looks forward to being an energetic member of the CRG. Suzanne lives in Corindhap and has been on many committees over the past 35 years. She is the co-editor of the Rokewood Newsletter and is a committee member of the Corindhap Recreation Reserve.
Halleshia is on the CRG so she can give back to the community and help direct the growth and future of the town, to cater for both young and old. Born and raised in Rokewood, Halleshia has always been involved in her community. Halleshia is also a member of the Golden Plains Rural Women’s Network and owns the Rokewood Post Office. Sophie is passionate about Rokewood and is excited about the prospect of watching our town grow and thrive. She is keen to ensure that all community members benefit from updated facilities and increased opportunities in the area. Sophie is also President of the Rokewood Kindergarten Committee and a member of the Rokewood Primary School Council.
A long-term resident of the Barunah Plains area, Margaret has strong connections to the district with an interest in ensuring that the local community continues to be supported. Margaret acts as Treasurer for a number of community organisations and welcomes the change to have input into the CRG. Ben is the Principal of Rokewood Primary School and has been a part of our community for eight years. Ben brings a unique perspective to the CRG – the voice of the Rokewood children and parents and believes the CRG offers a great opportunity to work cooperatively with others to make a positive difference to our town.
Carolyn moved to Rokewood four years ago and is keen to be involved in the community. A parent of two and grandmother of two, Carolyn lives here with her husband David and operates a cleaning business. Carolyn is a volunteer with the Rokewood CFA. Jo moved to Rokewood from Warburton four years ago and works at The Meadows. Jo volunteers at Rokewood Primary School and joined the CRG to help with decisions that need to be made for the betterment of the community.
Bryan is the Leading Senior Constable and Station Commander at Rokewood Police Station. Bryan has chaired the CRG since it’s inception and is looking forward to continuing to be part of a team that is focused on enabling local groups to gain funding that will ultimately benefit the community as a whole.
The day wind and solar nearly met 100 per cent of demand in Victoria By Giles Parkinson Daniel Westerman, the new head of the Australian Energy Market Operator, wants to get the Australian grid ready for the occasions it will need to accommodate 100 per cent penetration of wind and solar. Westerman says he needs that to be in place by 2025, and on Sunday August 15 we got more insight into just how urgent it is when the amount of available wind and solar generation in Victoria was enough to meet more than 99 per cent of the state’s demand. Energy analyst Geoff Eldridge, who runs the data-based NEMlog website, says the combined total of wind and solar generation, and the amount of wind and solar “constrained off” totalled 99.1 per cent of Victorian demand at 2.05pm on Sunday August 15. That’s a new record for the state, by a big margin. Eldridge says that the previous record was 80.3 per cent on Saturday, October 3, last year. The amount that was actually delivered to the grid from wind and solar at that time – 66.3 per cent of demand – was impressive enough, but not actually a record share. According to Eldridge, it was the fourth highest, trailing the record 70.3 per cent on Saturday, April 3 this year. (Yes, such records are usually set on weekends! We should also point out that this was not a share of total local production, but of local demand. Production was higher because Victoria was exporting at the time). These records are likely to continue to fall as more wind and solar farms join the grid, with a host of new battery storage projects also in the state – three operating, one in commissioning, and another half dozen queuing to join, which will help change the profile of electricity generation in the state and create more demand when it is otherwise low. Brown coal units were operating only at around 55-60 per cent of their capacity at this time. This article was originally published by Renew Economy. Giles Parkinson is founder and editor of Renew Economy and is a former deputy editor of the Australian Financial Review.
CONTACT US
Phone: 03 5421 9999 Email: info@goldenplainswindfarm.com.au Facebook: @westwindenergy Office 4 Nexus Centre, 17 Goode St, Gisborne Vic 3437 Phone: (03) 5421 9999 goldenplainswindfarm.com.au