Bango Wind Farm, NSW

Bango Wind Farm is located on Ngunnawal Country, 14km south of Boorowa and 30km north of Yass. It is the third largest operational wind farm in NSW. The 244MW wind farm became fully operational in 2023, producing enough electricity to power 144,000 homes and prevent 543,000 tonnes of carbon emissions annually.

Key Project Info

Wind turbines

46 x GE 5.3MW

Commercial operations

Early 2023

Maximum capacity

244MW

Annual output

748GWhs

PPA partners

Woolworths, Transurban, Snowy Hydro

144k
543k
320
$14m

Project Timeline

Step 1/13

Project identification and site selection

Identification and site selection is based on an analysis of opportunities and constraints including (but not limited to): distance to the electricity grid, wind resource and population density of the surrounding community. Our team then undertake a number of site visits and consultation with landowners in the area.

Current Stage
DSCF1273

Step 2/13

Project feasibility and community engagement

Site-specific investigations are undertaken to assess the impacts and opportunities of the project and feedback is sought from the local community.

Current Stage
160m Mast

Step 3/13

Development Application and Environmental Impact Statement

A Development Application is made and an EIS prepared which involves a wide range of studies to address stakeholder feedback received to date and to consider the potential environmental and social impacts of the project.

Current Stage
Pexels pixabay 357514

Step 4/13

Public exhibition and Submissions Report

The EIS is placed on public exhibition through the NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure. Interested members of the public are invited to have their say during the exhibition period by way of formal submissions. A Submissions Report is then prepared, which aims to respond to the submissions received.

Current Stage
IMG 80711

Step 5/13

Assessment and development consent

The project documents are assessed by the relevant government authorities. If determined, Development Consent is granted alongside a range of conditions specific to the project.

Current Stage
SQE Office 12 C

Step 6/13

Post approval, contracting and financing

A lead contractor(s) to build the project is appointed and all pre-construction approvals and consents are finalised. During this phase, the lead contractor(s) is provided with a list of local businesses that have registered their interest and capabilities through the project website.

Current Stage
SQE Office 3 C

Step 7/13

Procurement

During this phase our lead contractor(s) seek tenders and engage contractors and suppliers to undertake the scope of the works. Orders are then placed for major components such as the wind turbines.

Current Stage
DSCN6131

Step 8/13

Early works and design

Initial site activities commence, such as minor clearing and provision of access roads along with establishing a site construction compound. Off-site detailed design works commences in parallel.

Current Stage
4 170607 WTG wide

Step 9/13

Major civil works

During this phase of the construction the bulk of the civil works takes place. This includes the construction of new internal access roads, excavation and construction of the turbine foundations, installation of the internal electrical reticulation system, construction of the high voltage substation and main transmission line network.

Current Stage
01 Final foundation pour 2

Step 10/13

Wind turbine erection

This is where the visual aspect of the wind farm starts to emerge, with large cranes lifting the tower sections, nacelle, hub and blades into place.

Current Stage
CWP Crudine Ridge Wind Farm JOW 201125 0131

Step 11/13

Commissioning

In order to export power to the grid, each turbine is required to undergo several performance tests. It is during this stage that you will start to see turbines spinning and ultimately the whole of the wind farm complete.

Current Stage
SWF 03 Sapphire Wind Farm landscape 230724 12

Step 12/13

Operations

The project is operating in accordance with relevant approval conditions and management plans. Compliance with conditions of approval and management plans is monitored as required throughout the life of the project.

Current Stage
CWP Sapphire Wind Farm JOW 201111 7104

Step 13/13

Decommissioning

The design life of the wind turbines will be at least 30 years. At the end of their useful life, the wind turbines and electrical equipment will be either replaced and the wind farm repowered, or the project will be decommissioned, and the site returned to its original use at the expense of the project.

Current Stage
20231113 i Phone Bango Wind Farm 72

Squadron Energy in the community

Rye Park School Go-Kart Project

Bango Wind Farm is assisting the Rye Park Public School to build a renewable energy powered go-kart project.

We sourced a junior go-kart that was in need of repair and modification and donated it to the school.

The students, with assistance from teachers, parents, school handyman and the CWP Renewables team, are busily rebuilding the kart that will be powered by solar and wind energy.

Huge efforts were put in by everyone involved in this project, with the hope of completing the go-kart by the end of October 2022.

Rye Park Go Kart 2022

Christmas Charity Support

Bango Wind Farm workers have a proud history of supporting Christmas charity drives.

In 2021, the team handed over cheques to “Vinnies Conference” to support existing charity work in the Yass and Boorowa communities, just in time for Christmas.

The previous year, workers got together just before Christmas and held a toy donation drive for children in the local area. The drive was particularly aimed at helping families who had been adversely affected by Covid-19.

A great variety of toys was collected and donated to "Vinnies Conference" in both the Yass and Boorowa communities.

2 Christmas toy drive

Christmas Light-Up Competitions

Great effort was taken by the residents of Yass and Boorowa for the 2021 Christmas Light-Up Competition, hosted by Squadron Energy and GE Renewable Energy. The competition, which covered Yass, Boorowa, and surrounds, saw an increase in entries this year.

The participants were judged on their presentation, light, creativity, and reflection of the spirit of Christmas. In the end, more than $2,000 worth of prizes were given away to the 9 winning entrants in Yass, as well as 11 entrants in Boorowa.

With such a great turnout from the community, Squadron Energy and GE Renewable Energy looks forward to hosting another year of Christmas Light-Up Competition in 2023.


48 Grampian 5

Bango Wind Farm goes to school and other places

Bango Wind Farm has addressed schools, groups and organisations in the Yass Valley and Hilltops council areas.

At the schools, students have made their own ‘mini turbines’ that have been either spinners on a stick or, for older students, very creative turbines from craft materials.

Local business chambers and service clubs presentations have been well attended with people being very interested in learning as much as they can about wind farms and Bango in particular.

CWP Crudine Ridge Wind Farm JOW 201124 2919

Supporting local Men’s Sheds

Rather than have scrap metal or wooden pallets sent to land fill, much of this has been offered to the local Men’s Sheds.

The Boorowa Men’s Den have been very excited by the donations, and members are looking forward to being even more creative than usual. The Men’s Den also supports the Boorowa Community Garden and is planning to use some of the donated resources for the garden.

10 Mens Den Scrap Metal

Children's short story written by local Boorowa resident

Topsy Turbo’s History Adventure written by children’s short story writer Pati Duyckers a local woman in her late eighties who retired from the workplace to live on a sheep farm near Boorowa in rural New South Wales.

Pati writes short stories for her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and other young children to enjoy. Pati has been very involved in the Boorowa Historical Society and was one of the strong movers behind the Boorowa Historic Railway display boards at the Old Courthouse Park in Boorowa. Talking to a Bango Wind Farm team member about her short stories, Pati was challenged to write a story about a wind turbine. Pati, got to work and researched the history of electricity producing wind turbines, and so the story of Topsy was born.

Illustrated by the BWF team member, Topsy Turbo’s History Adventure is published by Squadron Energy and given free to primary schools and any child that wants to read it.

You can download a digital copy of the book below or get in touch with the Bango Wind Farm project team who would be happy to send you a copy!

Topsy Turbo’s History Adventure by Pati Duyckers

TTHA Pati2

Tuppence the Orphan Turbine

Squadron Energy is proud to publish and distribute Tuppence the Orphan Turbine, written by Lyn Diskon, a Bango Wind Farm employee and long-time resident of the region.

The adventure story book is accompanied by illustrations by students from Boorowa Central School, St Joseph’s Catholic School, Rye Park Primary School, Bowning Public School, Mt Carmel Catholic School, and Berinba Public School.

Inspired by “Topsy Turbo’s History Adventure” written by Pati Duyckers, the book is aimed at school-aged children.

“I visited primary schools around Bango Wind Farm and asked if their students would like to create illustrations for the book,” Lyn said.

“These were children predominantly in years 3 to 6, and they did a fantastic job with their drawings!”

The book is being distributed to schools in the region for free, with the hope of educating and inspiring the next generation of readers about renewable energy.

Tuppence Book Cover FA 29 09 22 Page 1

Our community approach

Community Benefit Fund

A Community Benefit Fund has been established in the form of a Voluntary Planning Agreement with the Yass Valley Council and the Hilltops Council.

Bango Wind Farm will contribute $3.9m over the life of the project. The funds will be split between the two councils according to the number of the turbines installed within each local government area.

The funds will be allocated by each council to enhance community projects and initiatives in accordance with their community plan.

Voluntary Planning Agreement documents are provided below.

12  

Community Sponsorship

The Bango Wind Farm community sponsorship program provides funds or in-kind support to community organisations and events in the Yass Valley Shire and Hilltops Council areas.

The program supports initiatives that strengthen our local community, through programs that make a positive and lasting contribution.

Key areas for the program include:

  • Education and training initiatives
  • Community development programs
  • Health and wellbeing
  • Environmental initiatives

Applications are open for community sponsorship.

Link to download the sponsorship guidelines here

Link to download the application form here

DSC 0643  

Community Consultative Committee

The purpose of a community consultative committee (CCC) is to provide a forum for open discussion.

It is a space for us to speak with representatives from the community, the council and other stakeholders about specific matters relating to the project.

The CCC follows the NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment’s Community Consultative Committee Guidelines for State Significant Projects. Meeting minutes are provided below.

If you would like to get in touch with your local CCC member, please contact the Independent Chairperson:

Lisa Andrews:
lisaandrews.ic@gmail.com

DSCF1850  

Publicly Available Documents

State Environmental Assessment Documentation

Commonwealth Environmental Assessment Documentation

CWP Crudine Ridge Wind Farm JOW 201125 3344  

About Squadron Energy

Squadron Energy is Australia’s leading renewable energy company that develops, operates and owns renewable energy assets in Australia. We are 100% Australian owned and have 1.1 gigawatts (GW) of renewable energy in operation and 900MW under construction. We are committed to launching 14GW of projects by 2030, powering the equivalent of six million homes.

Contact

Operations Manager

Grant Stepien

Email: bangowind@squadronenergy.com

Mailing Address

GPO Box 1858, Canberra ACT 2601

Complaints and Issues Contact Point:

Tel: 1300 634 865

Social Media

Bango Wind Farm on Facebook

Newsletter

Receive the latest Bango Wind Farm project updates straight to your inbox