Focus

White Rock Wind Farm is launching a Local Business Participation Program to maximise opportunities for local suppliers to participate in the project.

White Rock Wind Farm has adopted a three stage process to maximise local participation and local economic benefits. This process involves the Industry Capability Network (ICN), the NSW Department of Industry and local business groups.

Under the first stage of the Local Business Participation Program White Rock Wind Farm are seeking expressions of interest for nearly 40 different work packages ranging from concrete supply to waste collection and water carting services. The project has been listed on ICN Gateway and companies with an ABN are encouraged to register their interest via the ICN website. Once the Main Contractor and Major Subcontractors has been appointed, the details of all companies that registered their interest during Stage One will be provided to the Main Contractors and Major Subcontractors.

Stage Two of the process will involve an Industry Forum in Glen Innes for businesses who register in the first stage. The forum will provide local businesses with additional information about the available work packages and the process of bidding for subcontracting or supply opportunities with the major subcontractors. The forum is planned to take place in late November 2015.

Stage Three, is the engagement stage where the Main Contractor or Major Subcontractors engage suppliers and subcontractors. Stage Three spans the full period of the project design and construction and the transition into the operations phase. The initial development of White Rock Wind Farm will consist of 70 turbines and associated infrastructure. It is expected to inject in the vicinity of $30 to $40 million into the local economy during construction. The project is expected to involve up to 200 jobs during construction and 10-15 local jobs during the 20 year operational period of the project.

John Titchen, Managing Director of Goldwind Australia (owner of White Rock Wind Farm), said “We aim to create significant local benefit from the White Rock Wind Farm by offering local companies the opportunity to participate throughout the 18 month construction period and by establishing a local team for the long term operation phase. We are excited about the opportunity for local businesses to contribute to the construction of White Rock Wind Farm. Our Local Business Participation Program aims to provide direct benefits to the local community so that together we can deliver a high quality renewable energy project.”

White Rock Wind Farm aims to be a well-integrated and valued project for the community over its lifetime. The Project is designed to maximising opportunities for local suppliers – accessing local capability is an important feature of the project plan. The Local Business Participation Process is designed to ensure local businesses are well informed about the project and have the opportunity to participate and benefit from the project.