We are committed to being a valued and active community member. It is important to us that we are able to demonstrate the benefits a renewable energy project can bring to a region by way of supporting jobs, businesses, community investment and long-term resilience and the environment.
The Liverpool Range Wind Farm will help reduce Australia’s carbon footprint while bringing investment and jobs to the region. As an Australian-owned business, we will work with our host landowners and neighbours to support the growth of the community around the wind farm.
Project Benefits
Jobs and business
Construction activities provide an economic boost for regional communities by increasing demand for local goods and services such as construction contracts, accommodation, hotels, hospitality and other services.
The overall economic activity of the Project will create approximately 230 more regional jobs per year during construction and 190 more per year during operation.
The peak construction workforce will be approximately 550 workers, and we estimate there will be approximately 40 ongoing operational jobs.
We acknowledge that there is low unemployment across the Central-West Orana region with many projects and businesses experiencing challenges sourcing staff. We are committed to maximising local employment outcomes by facilitating pathways for local and regional community members and First Nations job seekers to build the required skills and move into available jobs; supporting apprenticeships and training opportunities; encouraging contractors to employ local people first before looking beyond the region; and advertising employment and procurement opportunities widely.
To register interest in providing goods or services for the construction phase of the Project, please click the link below and complete the form.
Transport
The RTS Project would upgrade impacted local and regional roads during construction benefiting all road users. The Project would also create additional fire breaks with improved access roads for firefighting.
Renewable Energy and the Environment
The RTS Project would generate approximately 1,332 MW enough power for up to 570,000 homes. That’s more than enough energy for all the homes in the Central Coast, Dubbo, Newcastle and Tamworth combined.
Every year the Project would reduce Australia’s carbon emissions by up to 2,500,000 tonnes. That’s the same as taking up to 814,000 cars off the road each year. All construction emissions will be offset within the first year of operation.
While the Liverpool Range Wind Farm is designed to operate for at least 30 years, when it does come time to decommission, over 80% of the wind turbine components can be recycled.
Benefit Sharing
The Project will inject more than $6 million each year to the local economy through payments to permanent staff, landholders and benefit sharing contributions. These funds, combined with the construction and the operation of the wind farm, will go on to support a further $95.47 million of regional economic activity during construction and $33.8 million every year during operations, further supporting local economic prosperity and resilience.
Tilt Renewables has several existing arrangements in place designed to directly fund infrastructure and initiatives in the region.
Benefit Sharing Plan
We will continue working with the community to spread the benefits of the Project via a Benefit Sharing Plan. This plan will seek to:
- Ensure the immediate communities directly benefit from the presence of the Project
- Contribute towards broader public benefits and economic development that address the needs of the region throughout the lifecycle of the Project
- Build on strategic opportunities to drive local innovation
- Create a legacy beyond the immediate benefits of the Project
We are engaging with EnergyCo, Warrumbungle and Upper Hunter Shire Councils, and relevant community groups to understand how our benefit sharing budget can best be allocated considering the RTS Project and the requirements of being a project in the Central West Orana (CWO) Renewable Energy Zone (REZ). The range of benefit sharing commitments to date as part of this budget include:
CWO REZ Access Fees
Annual payments during operations equating to around $3M/year towards community and employment purposes, prescribed by EnergyCo and the NSW Government
Voluntary Planning Agreement (VPA)
Our existing VPA with Warrumbungle and Upper Hunter Councils commits to an annual contribution by the Project of $3,000 per installed turbine (or a minimum of $100,000) to each Council. These funds are to be allocated as follows:
- 77% towards a Community Enhancement Fund
- 23% for a Road Maintenance Fund from the commencement of construction.
A copy of the Voluntary Planning Agreement can be found via this link.
Additional Proponent-led initiatives
The Benefit Sharing Plan will also seek to enable the sharing of additional benefits during the construction period and in the early years of operations.
Other benefit sharing activities could include:
- local employment and training opportunities
- local and regional programs aligned with the Plan’s objectives to leave legacy benefits
- educational programs
- environmental initiatives
Do you have an idea for a project that supports community development and resilience?
We welcome your ideas about community investment initiatives and invite you to contact us by email: liverpoolrangewindfarm@tiltrenewables.com or on 1800 WE TILT (938 458)