The NSW Government has approved the first stage of the biggest wind farm in Australia creating more than 800 construction and operational jobs in Silverton near Broken Hill.
Premier Nathan Rees said the first stage of the $2.2 billion wind farm project will deliver 282 wind turbines which will generate enough green energy to power around 200,000 households.
“The construction of Silverton Wind Farm Developments’ (SWFD) wind farm is great news for jobs and the economy in the Far West and even better news for the environment,” Mr Rees said.
“A single wind turbine will generate enough energy to power up to 732 homes per year which is the equivalent of taking around 1,170 cars off the road annually.
“This development will be one of the world’s largest wind farms and has the potential to provide electricity to three states across the country.
“It will occupy about 32,000 hectares of Crown Land and will form a central part of the state’s electricity infrastructure.”
Mr Rees said the project will deliver 700 jobs to the Broken Hill area during the five-year construction period and 120 jobs during operation of the project.
“This wind farm will provide substantial direct and indirect benefits to the Broken Hill and Silverton communities with an injection of $700 million into the regional economy and up to $90 million into the local economy,” Mr Rees said.
Source: Office of the Premier NSW Goverment
