Wambo Wind Farm: Frosty feedback as wind turbine construction begins

Construction on the first of 83 wind turbines near Jandowae has begun, but not everyone is happy with the project. Find out more.

Construction has begun on Australia’s largest wind turbines at Wambo Wind Farm near Jandowae.

The turbine is the first of 83 to be constructed at the site and is expected to provide enough energy for more than 300,000 homes as well as create 400 jobs.

At a staggering 247m tall, the wind turbines will be the largest in the country and are expected to supply more than 500 megawatts of renewable energy.

Wambo Wind Farm got underway with the delivery of the first turbine components to the Jandowae site last month, with the project now expected to conduct deliveries of two wind turbines a week with two of the country’s tallest cranes being used to erect the wind turbines.

Wambo Wind Farm begin construction on Turbines

In a press release last month Stanwell chief executive Michael O’Rourke said the wind turbines were a significant step towards reaching clean energy goals.

“The delivery of the first wind turbine components to the Wambo Wind Farm site is an exciting milestone for the project,” he said.

“The arrival of these components means we are progressing well towards stage 1 of the project becoming operational next year, bringing online a total of 252MW, which is enough to power 165,000 homes.

“Under this important partnership with global renewable powerhouse Cubico, Stanwell will own 50 per cent of the energy produced and we will purchase the rest of the power from Cubico under a 15-year agreement.

“That brings us another 506MW closer to Stanwell’s target of 9 to 10GW of clean energy by 2025.”

Wambo Wind Farm begin construction on turbines

In light of the news community feedback has been frosty with dozens of members of the Jandowae Community Group airing their grievances with the project.

“They’ll (look) pretty on the landscape, not,” Rachel Bice wrote.

“Scars on our country, not cool,” Michael Farrugia said.

“Can’t wait to look out my window and see them, what an environmental disaster,” Tanya White added.

“It’ll spend 90% of its time turned off like the rest of them’, Rory Hiluxury Collett said.

Meanwhile other commenters like Leah Angela Bangham showed support for the project.

“I really don’t understand any of negative comments … you all want power but not the sources, please explain to me how you intend to make the energy to run your home,” she wrote.

“I think that a wind farm is so much better than the alternatives.”

“This is fantastic news! Great progress,” Brett Mason agreed.

The project is expected to be complete by 2026.