The Weekly Advertiser - Wednesday, June 28, 2017

Page 1

Vol. 19 No. 50

FREE PUBLICATION

Australian Editorial Award 2016

Wednesday, June 28, 2017

INSIGHT: Wimmera students Belinda Ziersch, left, and Amber Sleep get the lowdown on what is needed to pursue a career with emergency services during yesterday’s Western Victorian Careers Expo at Longerenong. They are pictured getting an understanding about what happens in an ambulance from paramedic Liz Allan. Students, job hunters and people exploring a career change made the most of the fact-finding opportunity on offer at Wimmera Events Centre. Picture: PAUL CARRACHER

Wimmera windfall W

BY DEAN LAWSON

immera industry and development will enter a new era of diversity on the back of a world-first multi million-dollar value-adding venture at Bulgana near Great Western.

A project combining energy generation from wind turbines, power storage from a grid-scale battery and an intense greenhouse agribusiness will create 600 jobs. Premier Daniel Andrews joined Energy Minister Lily D’Ambrosio, Northern Grampians Shire Council and industry representatives, other

guests and a large media contingent at the site to announce the project. Sustainable energy producer Neoen Australia, agribusiness Nectar Farms and the State Government have signed a three-way memorandum of understanding, representing a $565-million development. The deal involves establishing a Bulgana Green Power Hub alongside a 30-hectare expansion of Nectar Farms’ greenhouse project at Stawell in staged development during the next two years. Predictions are that as well as creating 600 positions, the project will also support 930 indirect jobs.

Neoen Australia managing director Franck Woitiez and Nectar Farms chief executive Stephen Sasse were among dignitaries at the announcement. The deal guarantees Nectar Farms 10 percent of the new power hub’s energy with the remaining 90 percent fed directly to the electricity grid. Delighted Northern Grampians mayor Tony Driscoll said the project represented a major regional win for Wimmera development. “We’re not just talking about the Northern Grampians Shire being a winner – the region as a whole is going to benefit,” he said.

“This is a global first, a game-changer. If we had failed to negotiate this agreement between Neoen and the State Government, future expansion of Nectar Farms and subsequent jobs would have been lost to the shire and Victoria. “By ensuring the Nectar Farms greenhouses have a reliable, competitive power supply, the company can grow its business here.” Nectar Farms started building 10 hectares of greenhouses after securing a parcel of land from Stawell Gold Mines earlier this year. But expensive and insecure energy supply halted plans for expansion.

“What Nectar Farms needed was surety of supply at a competitive price,” Cr Driscoll said. “This agreement gives them that.” As part of the memorandum, the State Government, Neoen Australia and Nectar Farms have agreed to work on terms for government support for the Bulgana Green Power Hub. Neoen plans for a 63-turbine windfarm now include a ground-breaking lithium-ion battery with storage capacity of 20 megawatts, or 34 megawatt hours. The battery will provide sustainable, baseload-equivalent power to Nectar Farms. Continued page 3

IN THIS ISSUE • Ararat council investigation • Carnival wish • Murra Warra project • Football-netball previews artisanHP0833

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