TasPorts welcomes 68.75 metre wind turbine blades to Tasmania

Forty eight wind turbines will be built near the Waddamana power station in the Central Highlands as part of the wind farm.

TasPorts has worked closely with developer Goldwind Australia to bring the almost 70-metre-long blades and turbine equipment to the state.

TasPorts Acting CEO Anthony Donald said the arrival of the turbine blades was a clear demonstration of the diversity of freight entering the state and the capacity of TasPorts to support these major infrastructure initiatives.

“This has been a complex project coordinating logistics between all involved parties,” he said.

“We are expecting all turbine components to arrive across six shipments over the coming months.

“The components will be stored inside the port at Bell Bay before making their way to the project site via road transport.

“Ninety nine per cent of the state’s freight comes in and out of Tasmania by sea, making our ports one of the most important economic assets in Tasmania.

“TasPorts is working to create an efficient port system, with capacity to facilitate trade for major projects that will benefit the state. This work provides a perfect example of that goal.”

The Cattle Hill Wind Farm will have the capacity to power 63,500 Tasmanian homes with clean renewable electricity once completed.

Goldwind Australia Managing Director John Titchen said the Cattle Hill Wind Farm project continued to have significant local benefits for the state during construction.

“Goldwind appointed Hobart-based Hazell Brothers to undertake the full civil and electrical works for the project and Launceston-based company Gradco to undertake road upgrades to allow for the delivery of wind turbine components and associated equipment,” he said.

“The $300 million project currently has approximately 120 staff on site, with up to 150 staff expected during construction peaks and up to ten permanent maintenance staff when the project is fully operational in late 2019.”

The project site is currently closed due to active bush fires in the area.

TasPorts and Goldwind would like to acknowledge the efforts of firefighters in the Central Highlands near Cattle Hill for their extraordinary work to date.