Image The Macarthur Wind Farm will contain 140 wind-turbines, enough energy to generate power to 220,000 Victorian households. SUSTAINABLE ENERGY AGL Energy Limited, one of Australia’s such as noise. These studies have been AGL and Meridian, through their leading renewable energy companies complemented through a panel hearing development of the Macarthur Wind Farm, AGL Energy Limited is developing the Macarthur Wind Farm and largest private owner, operator process whereby interested stakeholders were have invested several millions of dollars with its joint venture partner, Meridian Energy, which will be the and developer of renewable generation provided with the opportunity to comment into local infrastructure, including roads. In largest wind farm in the Southern Hemisphere. assets is developing the Macarthur Wind on the development and provide additional particular, the Macarthur-Hawkesdale Road Farm with its joint venture partner, proposals for consideration by the panel. The has been redeveloped between Macarthur MAIN CONStructiON COMPANY : Leighton Contractors Meridian Energy. outcome of this process was the successful and the wind farm site, as has Tarrone OwnERS : AGL Energy Ltd & Meridian Energy PROJECT ManagEMENT : KBR issue of a planning permit to build and North Road from Woolsthorpe to Heywood VEStaS ELECTRICAL DESIGN : Consolidated Power Projects The project will become the largest wind farm operate the Macarthur Wind Farm. Road to the Tarrone site. Additional funding CIVIL DESIGN : Robert Bird Group in the Southern Hemisphere and is located has also been provided directly to both GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERS : Coffey Geotechics approximately 16km east of the township An Engineer Procure and Construct (EPC) Moyne Shire and VicRoads to facilitate PROJECT END VALUE : $1 Billion of Macarthur in Western Victoria. The Wind contract has been placed with a Leighton maintenance programs of their respective COMPLETION : End of 2012 Farm will consist of 140 wind-turbines that Contractors / Vestas Consortium for the road assets. These upgrades, funding and can generate enough clean, green energy with delivery of the project. Leighton is a leading ongoing regular contact between AGL, capacity to generate 420 MW of renewable national construction company bringing its contractors, Moyne Shire Council and energy to power the equivalent of 220,000 substantial expertise to the construction VicRoads is just part of our commitment to average Victorian households per year, phase whilst Vestas, the world’s largest the community. with greenhouse gas emission savings of manufacture of wind turbines, brings state over 1.7 million tonnes per annum. The of the art technology, quality and reliability to AGL, Meridian and their project partners Macarthur Wind Farm will contribute to the the project to ensure the wind farm’s success continue to invest in local community governments expanded Renewable Energy over the longer term. projects and assist local community groups Targets, aimed at creating a sustainable energy with funding for equipment to support key future for all Australians, which aims to have The wind turbines will be constructed of local health care and emergency services 20% of the country’ s electricity generated materials that minimize the visual impact on groups. Long after construction is complete, from renewable sources by 2020. the landscape, including coloured finishes that AGL and Meridian will continue to support blend with the landscape and which are non- the local community through its community The Macarthur Wind Farm project has been reflective. AGL is one of Australia’s largest funding programs. subject to a wide range of comprehensive investors in renewable energy investments and studies including the potential impact on in their experience, wind farms bring significant For more information contact AGL Energy ecology, landscape, cultural heritage, visual economic growth and benefits to local Limited, 120 Spencer Street Melbourne VIC amenity and other environmental factors communities and the broader region in general. 3000, website: www.agl.com.au/macarthur 98 VIC PROJECT FEATURE MACARTHUR WIND FARM AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION REVIEW WWW.ANCR.COM.AU VIC PROJECT FEATURE MACARTHUR WIND FARM 99 Below Sinclair Knight Merz (SKM) were contracted as the owner’s engineer on the Macarthur Wind farm project. A commitment to service anD QUALITY Sinclair Knight Merz (SKM) is working with AGL Energy Ltd (AGL) to deliver high-profile renewable energy projects, and in the process, is continually enhancing its capacity to provide high- value technical and owner’s engineering services to the wind farm sector. By combining leading project delivery and specialist consulting skills with excellence in technology and facility management, SKM consistently delivers sustainable solutions. As owner’s engineer for wind farms under construction, such as AGL’s 420MW Macarthur wind farm, SKM verifies the quality, quantity and performance of deliverables being undertaken by the contractor (under Engineering Procurement and Construction – EPC contracts) and ensures compliance with those EPC contracts Virtual teaming and in-house up-skilling has such as Macarthur includes: and other regulatory requirements. played a role in developing the generation • Site prospecting and pre-feasibility team’s skills. SKM has called upon its UK assessment SKM was engaged in a number of roles, from generation team with this particular expertise • Wind monitoring and energy yields the initial stages of the Macarthur Wind Farm as well as recruiting local specialists to enable • Environmental impact assessment and project, to owner’s engineer. a “one-stop shop” service to the market. consenting • Development Application for Meridian • Network analysis including connection • Pre-Construction Tender Prep for AGL Patrick Hill, SKM’s General Manager, Power studies • Connection Studies for AGL and Energy, said, “It’s an important sector • Wind farm design and specification • Preconstruction Tender Negotiation for us to continue to develop in line with • Wind farm infrastructure design and Assistance AGL our overarching renewable energy strategy. specification • Construction Owners Engineer In recent years we have delivered services • Procurement to support more than 8000 MW of wind • Construction management “SKM provides energy globally”. • Operation and maintenance • Due diligence, insurance and risk engineering solutions SKM is a leading projects firm, with global assessment capability in strategic consulting, engineering • Owner’s Engineer that cover every and project delivery. It operates in three regions: Asia Pacific, the Americas and SKM is an organisation with a proud history phase of wind farm EMEA (Europe, Middle East & Africa), that embraces shared values and an open development” deploying some 7,000 people from more than culture. The team boasts a commitment to 40 offices. service and quality, with high standards of safety David Pollington, SKM Team Leader - and business ethics, along with a leading edge Renewable Energy said, “This kind of work SKM provides engineering solutions that approach to delivering a sustainable future. has its challenges. The complexities lay in cover every phase of wind farm development the wind farms themselves, the balance of and have undertaken work for developers, For more information contact Sinclair Knight plant (civil, roads and electrical services), constructors, operators and investors. Merz (SKM), contact: David Pollington, and providing, in partnership with sub- SKM Team Leader, Renewable Energy, consultants, renewable generation expertise The specialised range of services provided phone 03 6221 3719, email DPollington@ in an emerging market.” by SKM for the development of wind farms globalskm.com 100 VIC PROJECT FEATURE MACARTHUR WIND FARM AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION REVIEW WWW.ANCR.COM.AU VIC PROJECT FEATURE MACARTHUR WIND FARM 101 Below SMB’s work involved building access tracks into both sites and construction of the substation plateau and all LEADING THE WAY associated storm water and conduit installation. SMB Civil Pty Ltd was initially engaged by reinforcing steel, setting of bolt cluster, was waterlogged from the continuing wet rock was then interlocked using a 75mm • Wind Farm Infrastructure economically and with superior quality. Leighton’s Construction to complete the setting up Pecaform, backfill of Pecaform, conditions. The Transmission line was minus product from Holcim Quarries which • Road construction The companies demonstrated capability civil works for the Tarrone and Macarthur pouring foundation, pouring pedestal footing constructed in very varied conditions that proved to be a brilliant and highly suitable • Bulk Earthworks, Civil and Infrastructure enables them to foster lasting relations substations. The works involved building and then backfill and site clean up. included clay, mud and basalt rises along product for the application. This solution projects and partnerships with valued clients and access tracks into both sites and construction with environmentally sensitive areas where enabled the combination of all the materials • Industrial and Commercial Structural suppliers. Having offices in Adelaide and of the substation plateau and all associated With the local area experiencing a very wet the utmost care was taken to avoid Native to provide the perfect bridging layer for such concrete Mount Gambier, along with a soon to be storm water and conduit installation. season, it was challenging