Vol.22 18No. No.33 27 Vol.
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Wednesday,February January 26, 13, 2020 2016 Wednesday,
AN ACE BIRTHDAY: Horsham’s Ayva Robertson, left, and Jaydah Pitt were both born at Horsham’s Wimmera Base Hospital on February 29, 2008. The girls were unaware of each other and their shared, unique birth-date until joining the same tennis team years later. As leap-year babies, their actual birthday comes around only once every four years, meaning this Saturday will be their third birthday as 12-years-old. Story, page 15. Picture: PAUL CARRACHER
Staley calls for action A
BY DEAN LAWSON
long delay in the progress of a unique multi-milliondollar renewable-energy project near Great Western has prompted Member for Ripon Louise Staley to demand answers from the State Government.
Wimmera Machinery Field Days AgLife edition INSIDE TODAY
Ms Staley, Victoria’s shadow treasurer, said the government was quick to claim kudos for its involvement in the Bulgana Green Power Hub project and now had a responsibility to make it happen. “If the only hold-up for this project is based on connectivity issues to the electricity grid, then it is the direct responsibility of the State Government, which brokered this deal, to get on
with it,” she said. Renewable energy producer Neoen Australia, agribusiness Nectar Farms and the State Government signed a three-way memorandum of understanding representing a $565-million development in 2017. The deal involved establishing Bulgana Green Power Hub, which involved 56 wind-powered turbines and a 20-megawatt industrial battery providing baseload power for use in a 30-hectare greenhouse venture. Predictions are that the project will create 600 direct jobs and support up to 930 jobs. Ms Staley said she understood the power-generation part of the project, with turbines now clearly visible from the Western Highway, was all but ready to start generating power to the
grid, while major development had yet to start on greenhouses. “Wind-farm developer Neoen has provided the required amount of investment to create a power-generating farm,” she said. “Regardless of the overall hub project, it needs to make a start and at least start generating power to the grid. “Energy minister Lily D’Ambrosio needs to come forward and tell us what’s going on, what’s the delay? “The government has taken every opportunity to spruik and boast about its involvement in the project and we need to see more progress. “It must be terribly frustrating for the groups involved.” The last time Nectar Farms presented an update about its part of the project,
where most of the predicted jobs will be generated, to Northern Grampians Shire Council was in November last year. It has since continued to keep the council informed of circumstances and progress. Northern Grampians mayor Murray Emerson agreed that progress had been slow, but key parties had provided assurances that plans were on track. “The word we’ve received is that when necessary details have been finalised, things will then get up and get going,” he said. “Because it’s such a large development we understand there will be hold-ups along the way, but it is now time for this project, which promises so much, to get underway.”
IN THIS ISSUE • City to River plan conflict • Branch hits cancer-centre target • Football-netball countdown
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