Solar company responds to Western Downs workplace safety concerns

Solar company Sterling and Wilson has responded to reports of mass safety notices being issued at their Wandoan Gangarri Solar Project on the Western Downs.

SAFETY: Solar giant Sterling and Wilson responds to Gangarri Solar Project workplace safety notice concerns. Pic: Marie Nirme

Global giant Sterling and Wilson, which is constructing Shell Australia’s first solar farm in southwest Queensland, has responded to reports of dozens of safety notices have been issued related to the Gangarri Solar Project.

Located near Wandoan on the Western Downs, the Gangarri Solar Project made headlines earlier in 2021, after an alleged multimillion-dollar contract dispute between Sterling and Wilson and Davis Contracting left 300 workers sacked.

Controversy surrounded the renewable project again when the Department of Workplace Health and Safety confirmed 32 Workplace Health and Safety notices were issued in two months, January and April 2021.

A Sterling and Wilson Solar Australia spokesman said in a statement that health and safety at all three of their solar projects on the Western Downs is the company’s highest priority.

“We took action and resolved all of the notices as and when they were received from the department and there are currently no open notices,” he said.

“(We are) committed to delivering large scale projects of the highest quality and safety standards in Australia for the long term.”

In early May, 2021, a Department of Workplace Health and Safety Queensland spokesman said the Shell Energy and Sterling and Wilson Gangarri Solar Project violated workplace health and safety standards 32 times in January and April.

“(Also,) six non-compliances were identified and fixed immediately while an inspector was on site and no notice was issued,” he said.

“Workplace Health and Safety Queensland takes all instances of non-compliance seriously and will continue to monitor and provide advice to contractors at the Gangarri Solar Farm site to ensure workers are safe.”

Electrical Trades Union Southwest Queensland organiser Dan McGaw said more needs to be done to protect solar workers before someone is seriously injured or killed.

“Their projects need to be shut down by the department until Sterling and Wilson start taking workplace health and safety seriously,” Mr McGaw said.

“I really fear if they don’t do anything, someone might be killed.

“They aren’t taking the department seriously, the workers, or the union – they’re treating workplace health and safety with contempt.”

A Shell Australia spokeswoman said work was continuing on the project and they would continue to work with Sterling and Wilson to ensure the Gangarri Solar Project is delivered safely.

“Our priority is – as always – the safety and health of our people and the communities in which we operate, and the safe operation of our business,” she said.

The large-scale solar project may generate 120 megawatts of solar electricity and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by around 300,000 tonnes a year.