General News
21 September, 2023
Work begins on solar farm
EARLY preparation works have gotten under way for the areas first solar farm at Bostocks Creek.
EARLY preparation works have gotten under way for the areas first solar farm at Bostocks Creek.
Bison Energy Australia head of business development for Trans Tasman/Pacific Region Brendan Murphy said early civil works have begun for site access ahead of the major construction works.
He said the major construction works on the project were expected to start in late October.
Mr Murphy said land was being located on the site utilising about 17 hectares which were expected to have 9300 solar panels on the property.
He said the solar farm was expected to produce about 11,570 mwh per year which was equivalent to 1500 homes being powered each year.
Mr Murphy said the project was expected to create jobs locally.
“We have appointed local trades to do electrical works and another local civil operator to handle the sites civil and trenching work,” he said.
“We support the community by utilising as much available local resources.
“Though the majority of the funds flowing through the local economy will be realised during construction, there is also the financial flow on benefits for tree planting and management, accommodation, food outlets, trades and tool suppliers to name a few.”
Mr Murphy said the solar farm has a lifespan of approximately 30 years.
He said maintenance, vegetation management and specialist trades would remain “critical over the next three decades”.
“These micro-sized distributed solar farms are good for the network also as they support generational shortfalls and lesson the reliance on fossil fuelled generation for the long-term future,” Mr Murphy said.
He said the Bostocks Creek Solar Farm, which has frontage on the Camperdown-Cobden Road, is the first for the company in the local region.
Mr Murphy said Bison Energy identifies sites, develops, constructs and operates and owns it’s own solar assets around the globe.
“We’re always excited to see these come out of the ground,” he said.
“Getting to this milestone is three years worth of work.”
Mr Murphy thanked the community and Corangamite Shire Council to date for “their support and assistance in making this happen”.
“Without the positive feedbacks we’ve had, this injection into the local Cobden and Camperdown areas wouldn’t have been possible,” he said.