Solar farm developers Ironbark Energy said they believe the site is just three weeks away from being asbestos-free, opening the door for construction on the project.
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An Ironbark Energy representative said the asbestos contained in the buildings on the old abattoir site, classed as lot 10, were a condition of the development application through council.
“When council gave us a DA, they said if you want to do anything regarding this site, we have to push for asbestos removal,” the spokesman said.
“In the last seven months we have been removing the asbestos and we believe we are about three weeks away from making it asbestos-free. Until we reach that milestone we have been unable to start our construction on both the industrial development and the solar farm. We have spent a lot of money and heartache getting to this point and are praising the contractors efforts as a lot of people would’ve given up on that site.”
An independent occupational hygienist will inspect the area to give the green light for construction on the community title project.
The company spokesman said they are hoping other investors will buy the building block, while the remainder of the site will house a 27-megawatt solar farm with 90,000 panels, with a 24 industrial lot sub-division around the perimeter and a further 272,100 kilowatt sub-lots that are available for purchase.
“We are hopeful the solar farm will be up and running by the end of the year. We then hope the industrial lots will coincide with that; some of the work is concurrent,” the spokesman said.
“We have had some interest in some of the larger lots already and we are going to offer options of power to some of the people that buy lots.”
The spokesman said if stage one of the solar farm was successful they would consider stage two as an option.
“Where the 27 megawatts is situated, we have another close to 60 hectares, that isn't covered by solar lots or industrial development. If an opportunity arises and if council is prepared to walk that line with us and Essential Energy is prepared to connect it, then we may in fact look at a stage two,” he said.
Ironbark Energy said the project was a benefit to the local community.
“It means the sub-station will be kept up-to-date with technology and we hope it provides employment opportunities for a number of individuals,” the spokesman said.
“We thank Gunnedah Shire Council for being so supportive.”
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