White Rock Project Update Community Consultative Committee 11 August 2016 1 Content

1. Project recap 2. Indicative timeline 3. Construction activity & photos 4. Gwydir Highway entrance 5. Ilparan Road update 6. Alternative powerline connection 7. Local wind farm projects 8. White Rock Solar Farm 9. Community activities

2 Project Recap

• Consented July 2012 • Goldwind acquired project in 2014 • 119 turbines consented • Stage 1 will include 70 turbines (175 MW) • 2.5 MW Goldwind turbine • Compliance is top priority • Health and Safety • Environment • Planning Approvals • Stage 2 under consideration

3 Timeline

Concept Design Modification 3 Start of Checked for Lodged construction Compliance Submission of 2 May 2016 Completion of CEMP to DPE substation etc.; Mod 3 for Approval Mod 3 Commissioning CEMP Exhibition Approved starts Approval Ends

Sept Q2 15 Q3 15 Oct 15 Nov 15 Dec 15 Aug 15Jan 16 Feb Oct16 15 Mar 16 Apr 16 May 16 Oct 16 Feb 17 Q4 17 15

BoP BoP Turbine contractor Commit to Tendering delivery End of Commences appointed Construction Construction Substation and transmission line Start of Appointment of Geotech construction Operations Environmental Early works Begins Representative start start

4 Construction activity

• Construction of Stage 1 commenced in early May 2016. • Initial works have started at the northern end of the project area, south of the Gwydir Highway. • Wet and rainy conditions in the region over the past two months has led to some delays for on-site construction activity. • Construction activity and traffic updates will be featured on a fortnightly basis in the Glen Innes Examiner and on website.

5 Construction photos I

Pre-start safety meeting Clearing at substation location

En-route to WTG21, layered fill construction Gwydir Highway construction compound

6 Construction photos II

Earthworks at WTG59 Haulage of fill material

Installation of culvert 7 Access Points for Construction

White Rock Wind Farm 8 Gwydir Highway Entrance

• Preparation for the upgrade of the Gwydir Highway at the main entrance to the project. • Design for the main entrance has been submitted to NSW Roads and Maritime Services (RMS), along with an independent traffic safety report. • Following approval from RMS, and the required notice periods, construction on the upgrade will commence. • Start work ASAP, ideally 2- 3 weeks max.

9 Ilparan Road update

• Dilapidation survey has been carried out to set baseline condition of road, as set out in the Project Approval (complete - January 2016) • Agreement with Glen Innes Severn Council (GISC) to pay compensation for dilapidation caused during construction period (signed - June 2016) • Committed to replacing most damaged section of tarmac with temporary graded gravel road during construction, upgrade works will be completed by the end of September • GISC will re-seal section of road at end of construction • WRWF has agreed with Council to fill existing potholes in the short term (should have been completed today) • WRWF & GWA to monitor the condition of the road (in consultation with GISC) during construction to ensure safety for all users • Additional maintenance works to be carried out as required until construction is finished • Dilapidation survey to be carried out at the end of the construction works to assess damage and road will be repaired if required (GISC/WRWF/GWA agreement)

10 Local wind farm projects

Sapphire Wind Farm is located 18 km west of Glen Innes, and 28 km east of . • It currently consists of up to 109 wind turbines. • Construction anticipated to start in late 2016.

Glen Innes Wind Farm is located 12 km west of Glen Innes. • It currently consists of up to 25 TransGrid Renewable Energy Hub wind turbines. is still being considered. • Construction is expected to • Potential 330 kV connection for start in late 2016. all three projects. • Discussion on most suitable location. Community Enhancement Fund (CEF)

• $175k per year for Stage 1 of the project ($2.5k per turbine), commencing on operation (anticipated late 2017). Aim of the Fund: “To provide funds to enhance and enrich community initiatives throughout the local community” Geographic area for the Fund: • Due to the limited defined community in close proximity to the wind farm, allow applications from any of the two council areas (Glen Innes and Inverell). Priorities for awarding funds: • Application judged on merits, including proximity to WRWF. • Funding allocation could be nominally split between LGAs based on number of turbines. 12 Community Enhancement Fund (CEF)

Potential scope of projects eligible for award of funding: • Community based projects which benefit the greater community. • Projects which improve the quality of life for the target community. • Projects which promote sustainability, the environment and conservation. • Projects which enhance education and healthcare. • Scholarships to assist young people to attend further education. • Keep the designated amount of funding per application and per category (e.g. healthcare, sport) open, however set up 1-2 funding amounts to target specific areas per year – e.g. $5k towards scholarship each year.

13 CEF Working Group

First meeting in 1 month time (mid-September) • Meeting #1 • Prior to meeting: review and comment on Community Fund options paper • Discuss potential options for the Community Fund. • Meeting #2 • Prior to meeting: review and comment on draft Community Fund guidelines paper • Discuss draft guidelines • Meeting #3 • Prior to meeting: review and comment on final Community Fund guidelines paper • Discuss final guidelines Open to committee members only.

14 Newsletter

• Third instalment of the Newsletter issued • Distributed by post and email to all residents within 10 km of the wind farm and available on the project website • Copies available at the shop front, Tourist Information Centre, Glen Innes Severn and Inverell Shire Council Offices

15 Sponsorship

• Developing a strategic approach for sponsorship • Sponsorship opportunities continue to be assessed on their merits • Annual budget allocated for sponsorship during construction phase • Recent sponsorships: • Glen Innes Examiner Business Awards 2016 • Armidale Business Chamber Business Awards 2016 • Regional Australian Athletics Team (July 2016) • Peter Cole Tennis Academy

16 Alternative powerline connection

• Considering an alternative 132 kV overhead powerline route to connect the project to the 330 kV transmission network. • Powerline would run approximately 13 km west from the wind farm site to connect to TransGrid’s 330 kV transmission line • Same size and configuration as the original approved powerline, but would be approximately 5 km longer. • The permanent physical impact will be the foundations for each pole, with concrete poles spaced approximately 200 to 250 m apart and a maximum height of 35m. • The proposal will require a modification application to be submitted and approved by the NSW Department of Planning and Environment (DPE). • Will facilitate the connection of Stage 1 and 2 of WRWF, improve the losses compared to the 132 kV connection

17 Alternative powerline connection

18 White Rock Solar Farm

• Development consent for White Rock Solar Farm was granted on 14 June 2016 • Subject to award of a grant from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), project financing and contractual arrangements, the construction of the solar farm could commence during first quarter of 2017 and the solar farm would be operational by end of 2017. • The development would form a pioneering hybrid solar-wind renewable energy facility in the New England Tablelands.

• Shared infrastructure with White Rock Wind Farm will maximise the use of existing facilities • grid connection • substation • some access tracks • internal 33kV underground electrical cabling 19 www.whiterockwindfarm.com [email protected]

20