Goldwind Australia’s requests for extended working hours at its Gullen Range wind farm – 20km west of Goulburn, New South Wales – have been opposed by the Upper Lachlan Shire Council.
The Australian wind farm developer asked the Council’s Planning Department to allow its cranes to work until 8pm on weekday evenings and 3pm on Saturday afternoons.
The application states strong wind in the area is delaying construction at the 73-turbine development, as cranes are used to place wind tower components.
According to Upper Lachlan Shire mayor John Shaw, however, Goldwind had the capacity to carry out work in the timeframe originally nominated.
“To come up with excuses like we didn’t expect so much wind or something like that as an excuse we thought was pretty petty because that’s why they’re putting the wind towers there because it is windy,” he said, as reported by ABC News.
Construction of the wind farm commenced in September 2012 is expected to be commissioned between December 2013 and March 2014.
Plant and machinery that will be operated during this period will include trucks, graders, excavators, backhoes, bulldozers, rollers, cranes, water cards, power tools, lighting towers and generators.
