Barwon Water is preparing to decommission the Black Rock Wind Turbine, thought to be Australia’s oldest wind turbine, in Connewarre, Victoria, near the Black Rock Water Reclamation Plant.
Installed in 1987, the wind turbine has reached the end of its operational life and needs to be dismantled to ensure public safety.
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“The wind turbine was first installed in 1987, and with replacement parts no longer available, it is not technically or financially viable to maintain,” general manager planning, delivery and environment Seamus Butcher said.
“We know the wind turbine is a local landmark, and we are engaging with community groups and neighbours to understand how we can best recognise its historical and cultural significance.”
Barwon Water is powering its facilities with 100% renewable electricity.
This has been achieved by an investment in about 25MW of renewable electricity capacity, which generates around 65GWh of electricity per year.
Its renewables portfolio includes the 3MW Black Rock solar farm, which was the first megawatt-scale solar installation in the Australian water industry when it opened in 2018.
The Black Rock solar precinct generates enough electricity to power 800 homes.
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In comparison, at the peak of its operation the wind turbine produced between 60-80MWh annually (enough to power up to 14 homes).
Members of the public are invited to share memories and photos of the Black Rock wind turbine here.
