Solar Farm projects

• Avonlie Solar Farm, Sandigo

Temporary delays have been caused to this development as a result of changes to the proposed EPC (solar farm builder). The most recently appointed EPC, Siemens Gamesa, have withdrawn from Australia and therefore from the Avonlie Project effective July 2020.

RES, the Avonlie developer, will be appointing a new EPC as soon as possible and the contact details for this EPC will be advised when this occurs.

• Yarrabee Park Solar Farm, Morundah

The Yarrabee Park Solar farm is progressing and is awaiting confirmation of connection arrangements from AEMO. More details will be available towards the end of 2020.

Solar Farm Reference Group

 The following members comprise the Solar Farm Reference Group that held its first meeting at the Council Chambers on Tuesday 15 January 2019.

Chairperson - Mayor Neville Kschenka, Cr Tracey Lewis, GM - George Cowan, EDM - Peter Dale, Narrandera Business Group - John Foster and Josie Marks, Narrandera Business Chamber - Cameron Lander, CVGT - Gabrielle Walsh, QPL Rural - Andrew Pellow, Southern ICN - Geoff Reardon, BEC - Michael Douglass, and TAFE - Jacqui Walsh.

Purpose of the Reference Group

Narrandera Shire Council initiated the formation of a representative Reference Group as a mechanism to address the needs of the builders of the proposed new Solar Farms being developed in Narrandera Shire by Esco Pacific at Sandigo, RES Australia at Sandigo and Reach Solar Energy at Yarrabee Park, Morundah.

The three projects received consent for State Significant Development from the NSW Department of Planning.

The objective for Council is to ensure that as many goods and services required by the solar farm builders can be sourced from within Narrandera Shire as possible, and that they are aware of an established mechanism to assist them in this regard.

Actions To Date

Council’s Economic Development Manager has circulated an Expression of Interest form to Narrandera businesses to enable them to indicate, across a listed range of goods and services, those categories in which the respective businesses are interested in being included in a database of goods and services that can be promoted to the solar farm builders when they are ready to commence construction.

Any business that has not received an EOI form should contact EDM Peter Dale to obtain a form so they can lodge their interest.

The Reference Group has already identified a number of initiatives that will be implemented in the coming weeks and months to ensure that the business community is ready to capitalise on all possible areas of demand likely to be demonstrated by the solar farm developers and builders.

Products and Services Procurement and Worksite Requirements

The following is a list of typical products and services  procured for solar farms:
Security guards, security fencing, civil works-land clearing and levelling, civil works-external road access, civil works-internal roads and hardstand for containers, drainage installation, supply of quarry products (may be included in civil contracts),excavation for underground high voltage lines, plants and establishment of screening vegetation-landscapers, weed services, hire of forklifts, rental of telehandlers, hire of site buildings-offices, toilets, showers, lunchrooms etc, minor electrical works associated with previous, plumbers associated with these, waste management including skip hire, mobile crane, water carting, toilet emptying and cleaning, office cleaning, transport, bus services for delivering workers to worksite, catering services, accommodation (cheap for workers and motels for managers and engineers, vehicle hire, security, surveyors, geotechnical services, regional training organisations, fuel delivery, site supplies, traffic management, environmental services, engineering services, labour hire.

 Additionally the reference group noted the following typical worksite requirements for solar farms.

• White card holders-General Construction Induction
• High Risk Work Licensed operators for cranes, forklifts, elevator platforms, telehandlers etc
• Drug and alcohol free workers as frequent testing is conducted
• Full PPE for workers, with hi viz clothing
• All plant and machinery to be pre-verified-tier one/mine spec standard

 The solar farm constructions offer excellent opportunities for a wide range of skills and trades and the Reference Group will be working to maximise opportunities for all businesses located in Narrandera Shire and for our local workforce.