Collapse of turbine at Berrybank Wind Farm sparks call for statewide safety audit

The Allan government is facing calls to launch a safety audit into the state’s wind farms after a turbine collapsed at the Berrybank Wind Farm near Lismore in southwest Victoria.

The Allan government is facing calls to launch a safety audit into the state’s wind turbines as authorities investigate the collapse of a turbine in Victoria’s southwest.

A series of safety concerns, the death of a worker and now the collapse of a wind turbine in high winds has prompted the state opposition to urge the government to commit to an urgent review.

It comes after the Herald Sun revealed last year that farmers were being told to wear hard hats on their own properties and move livestock after multiple serrated edges flew off turbines at the Golden Plains Wind Farm.

Just weeks later, the death of a construction worker at the same wind farm prompted a major investigation by authorities.

A wind turbine collapsed at the Berrybank Wind Farm in Victoria’s southwest. Picture: Supplied

The collapse happened amid high winds. Picture: Supplied

Early on Tuesday morning, a turbine located at the Berrybank Wind Farm north of Colac, toppled to the ground after high winds swept through the area.

Photos show the crumpled blades lying on the ground beside the 112m tower.

An exclusion zone was set up around the structure at the large-scale renewable energy project, which is owned by Global Power Generation.

WorkSafe inspectors were on the scene on Tuesday and will determine whether further assessments are required.

It is understood that no workers were on the site at the time of the incident.

Richard Riordan wants a safety audit of Victoria’s wind farms. Picture: Alan Barber

Member for Polwarth Richard Riordan said enough was enough, urging the state government to undertake an urgent review.

“With thousands of these Rialto tall towers across a fire prone landscape and close to roads and communities the fear of uncontrolled fires and random collapses must be dealt with,” he said.

“How many don’t have fire suppression? “Was yesterday’s collapse a one off? Or a structural flaw?

“Labor’s energy transition should not be putting country communities at risk.”

Leaked documents, revealed by the Herald Sun in December, show the Golden Plains wind farm had allegedly failed to implement proper safety precautions before the construction worker Jess Patience, 36.

An urgent improvement notice was issued by WorkSafe 10 days after Mr Patience’s death, alleging that there was a “risk to employee health and safety from wind turbine blades falling from their support stand”.

Multiple duty holders are understood to be under investigation following the fatal incident.

The Herald Sun has contacted the Berrybank Wind Farm for comment.

Originally published as Collapse of turbine at Berrybank Wind Farm sparks call for statewide safety audit