Gippsland locals powering ahead with construction of SEC Delburn Wind Farm

It’s been more than six months since the first sod was turned at the SEC Delburn Wind Farm and the project is not only rapidly taking shape but also providing significant benefits for local businesses and workers.

Around 100 people are currently working on the project, including 17 trainees and cadets from the Gippsland region and this is set to increase as the project continues. The wind farm is also providing a significant boost for the local economy, with 158 local suppliers working on the project providing services including accommodation, food, fuel, machinery, training, clothing and parts.

One local business key to the project’s delivery is Delta Group, a national construction company with a regional branch in the Latrobe Valley and strong local workforce presence in Traralgon.

Delta Group Construction Manager Kane Gostling said the project is one of the company’s most significant contracts in Delta Group’s 38-year history.

“We now have more than 70 people working on the SEC Delburn Wind Farm, of which more than 80% call Gippsland home.

“Employing locally has been a big priority for us. It means workers in the region can stay close to home and gain valuable experience on a renewable infrastructure project.

“We are also focused on contributing to the workforce of the future and currently have 11 cadets and trainees working on the project, all of whom are local Gippslanders.”

Delta Group is one of several partners SEC is working with to deliver Victoria’s first publicly owned, utility-scale wind generation project. The project will deliver up to 205 megawatts of renewable electricity – enough to power more than 130,000 homes and is expected to create more than 300 jobs during construction.

Construction milestones achieved to date include the completion of the main construction compound and site facilities, as well as the installation of five 130,000-litre firefighting water tanks which are part of extensive fire mitigation measures. Substantial progress is also being made on early-stage earthworks and access track development.

“Everything about this job is large, and we mean large. Bulk earthworks are expected to involve nearly 900,000 cubic metres of cut and fill as well as stripping 260,000 cubic metres of topsoil across a 950,000 square metres area,” Mr Gostling said.

The project also requires 50km of new or upgraded access tracks, four council road upgrades, 11 council intersection upgrades, and four Department of Transport highway intersection upgrades.

Over the coming months, Delta Group and SEC’s other delivery partners, including OSMI Australia and Vestas, will be preparing to pour the first foundations for the project’s 33 wind turbines.

Due to be operational in 2028, the project adds to SEC’s growing pipeline of projects which includes SEC Energy Works - an energy innovation precinct in Hazelwood North, the SEC Renewable Energy Park – Horsham which is under construction, and the Melbourne Renewable Energy Hub near Melton which has been contributing to meeting Victoria’s renewable supply goals since its commercial operation in December last year.