Four community-led Emergency Services Units have secured a share of $20,000 through the Granville Harbour Wind Farm Volunteer Emergency Services Grant.

Project Director for the Granville Harbour Wind Farm, Lyndon Frearson, said funds would help each of the four winning emergency units to attract new volunteer members and provide enhanced emergency support to the West Coast Community.

“West Coast Emergency Services do so much for this tight-knit community and we’re really pleased to be able to help them extend their support services – and give back to their volunteer teams,” he said.

Winners of this year’s Volunteer Emergency Services Grant are:

  • Queenstown SES – technology upgrades to Emergency Response Vehicles and purchase of a defibrillator.
  • Zeehan SES – volunteer training equipment and materials to support public and community engagement initiatives.
  • Queenstown Ambulance Volunteers – Communications, education and new kitchen equipment for volunteers to use while on shift.
  • Zeehan Fire Brigade – uniforms for volunteers and safety equipment.

The Granville Harbour Wind Farm Volunteer Emergency Services Grant will run for a further two years and provide a total of $50,000 to West Coast-based Emergency Services to assist them to protect and preserve the safety of residents and businesses.

Justin Bailey, Regional Managing Director of John Laing Group, one of the investors in Granville Harbour Wind Farm, said: “John Laing is delighted to provide support to these West Coast emergency services and their volunteers, who work tirelessly to keep the community safe. We believe it is important to give back to these community groups, particularly as they navigate through this complex time.”

The Granville Harbour Wind Farm has delivered substantial funding and economic investments to the West Coast and North West Coast communities since the project started construction.

Over $3.8 million of direct expenditure has flowed to West Coast businesses and suppliers, including accommodation providers, coffee shops and stores and in the small town of Zeehan – population 713.

“Granville Harbour Wind Farm is a good example of how renewable energy projects create enviable opportunities for regional townships – by providing employment and trade options for a range of local workers,” Mr Frearson said.

Further grant funding up to $20,000 will be offered to West Coast-based community groups and service organisations in August this year, through the Granville Harbour Wind Farm Community Grants Program.

“We’re really motivated to get this year’s community funding out to eligible organisations given the exceptional circumstances many will have faced as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic,” Mr Frearson said.

Construction work at the 112MW wind farm is nearing completion, with a permanent team of six workers recently appointed to operate the $280 million asset.

Four of these workers are Tasmanians.

When complete, the wind farm will host 31 wind turbines and produce up to 112 megawatts of clean, renewable energy. This is enough electricity to power around 46,000 homes – or nearly every household in the North West of Tasmania.