A BALLARAT construction business is one of three regional Victorian companies awarded contracts for the Ararat Wind Farm.
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MKM Constructions, based in Ballarat, will manufacture and install the on-site offices and workshops as the $450 million Ararat Wind Farm project enters a new phase of construction.
MKM’s tender was part of more than $3 million of work awarded to three companies, with Millers Civil Contractors (Millers) from Horsham engaged to provide initial earthworks, which involves the construction of the main access track to the wind farm substation and the main compound, and Mansfield Crushing to rock drill, blast, sort and haulage subcontractor.
Construction of the wind farm commenced in August, starting with intersection upgrades on the Pyrenees Highway at Woodlands Road and Hopkins River Road.
The next phase marks the commencement of construction on the wind farm project site providing the main access to the substation and construction compound, consisting of three kilometres of a total 54-kilometre of access required on the wind farm.
Lead wind farm contractor Trevor Cohen from Downer Utilities said he was pleased to welcome more local contractors to the project.
“The Ararat Wind Farm is a world class project and one of the largest in Australia,” he said.
“We’re very pleased to be able to have regional partners working with us on the project that in turn benefits the local Victorian economy and local community.”
The general manager of Ararat Wind Farm Stuart Liddell said it was pleasing to see regional Victorian companies engage local Ararat suppliers such as Graeme McKay Earthworks and employ local subcontractors to successfully deliver on their contract.
“It is further good news for the local community,” he said.
The Ararat Wind Farm will have a life span of 25 years and operations are expected to start during 2017 and will generate enough electricity to power around 120,000 homes per annum, or approximately six per cent of Victoria’s households.
The $450-million project is located about 10 kilometres north-east of Ararat.
The Renewable Energy Systems project will be the third-largest wind farm in the southern hemisphere.
Seventy-five wind turbines will be erected at the project site.
Five will be built within Northern Grampians Shire Council area, with the remaining turbines within Ararat Rural City.
The farm will be one of three that will provide 33 per cent of Canberra’s electricity.
Work on the Ararat Wind Farm is due to finish by the end of 2017.
