Cairns Port unloads huge wind farm blades

Huge wind turbine blades being unloaded at Cairns Port each weighing at 32 tonnes were a potent symbol of the 250 jobs being created by the $373m Kaban Green Power Hub. FIND OUT HOW IT IS USED

Crews at Cairns Port were busy on Thursday with a special delivery as the first shipment of monumental wind turbine blades for the $373m Kaban Green Power Hub arrived.

But they were not only unpacking components, they were also helping to secure more than 250 jobs in the Far North.

Each 79m, 32 tonne blade is a vital component of the wind farm construction on the Tablelands which will deliver enough renewable energy to power 96,000 Queensland homes.

The blades were placed in storage along with the towers, and other components ahead of being transported to the $373 million Kaban Green Power Hub located near Ravenshore, about 80km southwest of Cairns.

Deputy Premier Steven Miles said the wind farm construction came on the back of a $40m investment by Queensland’s publicly-owned Powerlink to upgrade the transmission line between Cairns and Townsville from 132kV to 275kV.

Huge wind turbine blades each 79 metres long are unloaded from the cargo ship Chipol Changjiang at the Port of Cairns, before being transported by road to the Kaban Green Power Hub near Ravenshoe. When completed, the wind farm will feature 28 windmills 226 metres in height, producing a total of 157 megawatts of power output. Picture: Brendan Radke

“This wind farm will help power the north and keep Queensland on track to meet our 50 per cent renewables target by 2030 as well as creating jobs for Queenslanders,” he said.

“This critical infrastructure has the potential to leverage hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of new investment in renewable energy in north Queensland in the future.”

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Energy, Renewables and Hydrogen Minister Mick de Brenni said the arrival was a welcome milestone, albeit a missed opportunity of manufacturing equipment locally.

“An even better outcome for Queensland and the nation would be a national renewables manufacturing industry policy,” he said.

Member for Cairns Michael Healy said more infrastructure means more jobs.

Huge wind turbine blades each 79 metres long are unloaded from the cargo ship Chipol Changjiang at the Port of Cairns, before being transported by road to the Kaban Green Power Hub near Ravenshoe. Picture: Brendan Radke

“The arrival of this equipment has also shown the importance of our port, and being publicly-owned means Queenslanders benefit from exports and imports arriving in our state,” he said.

Powerlink CEO Paul Simshauser said Queensland’s first Renewable Energy Zone (QREZ) was taking shape.

“There are currently 30 people on site at Tumoulin working to connect this wind farm into the grid, with completion due in October this year,” Mr Simshauser said.

“We’re pleased to be able to call on the support of Ravenshoe locals to deliver this project, with Kidner Concrete supplying over 1000m3 of concrete and Dempsey Cranes and Construction for heavy plant hire.”

Originally published as Cairns Port unloads huge wind farm blades