Two 211 metre turbines can now been seen standing out of the Wimmera landscape. The first was completed on January 10, while the second was finished on January 14.

Parts for the turbines have been arriving by truck from Portland since the start of December.

Owners' site representative Adam Lenihan said, once all the parts had arrived, it took just under a month to complete the first turbine.

“It took approximately three weeks taking into account the Christmas shutdown and training that had to be undertaken given that this is the first of its type to be assembled,” he said.

The turbines are constructed using a 960 tonne Leibherr crane that can lift 750 tonnes and is 153 metres high.

Related: Murra Warra Wind Farm stage one starts to take shape

Mr Lenihan said the process would now be easier for the constructed of the next turbines.

“Depending on wind conditions it is expected that productivity will improve to approximately one week per turbine,” he said.

Mr Lenihan said the first stage of the farm was expected to be completed by the end of the third quarter.

Murra Warra Wind Farm spokeswoman Susan Findlay Tickner said it was fantastic that the Wimmera was now home to the tallest wind turbine in the country.

“Apart from bragging rights, there are many benefits to the Wimmera community,” she said.

“We expect 320 direct and indirect jobs will be created during this phase of construction.

“We will generate enough clean electricity to power 220,000 Victorian homes annually, and 900,000 tonnes of greenhouse gases will also be reduced each year.

“Each year $1000 per turbine will be put towards funding community projects and good causes. This will work out to be a total of $2.2 million over 25 years.

“Long term, the local economic benefit to the community will be $42 million over 25 years.”

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