Landmark Indigenous agreement for Queensland wind farm
A proposed windfarm on a cattle property in Gugu Badhun Country north west of Townsville is expected to provide clean power to 240,000 homes and eliminate 1.2 million tonnes of carbon dioxide from Australia’s energy market every year.
In 2022, project owner Windlab signed a landmark Indigenous Land Use Agreement (ILUA) with Traditional Owners, the Gugu Badhun. This puts Indigenous stewardship at the front of the project’s land management approach.
Gawara Baya, or “Wind Song” in the Gugu Badhun language, lies close to an existing transmission line near the community of Mount Fox. Its name was official changed from Upper Burdekin Wind Farm in May 2023 after extensive consultation with Traditional Owners.
The project is expected to start in April 2024, once all the environmental and other regulatory approvals are finalised.
Windlab will be using ICN Gateway to call for expressions of interest in the project and encourages local industries to get involved.
Work packages are likely to include:
- Temporary accommodation and site facilities
- Earthmoving
- Electrical supply and installation
- Plant and equipment hire
- Surveying and geotechnical investigations
- Security and fencing
- Waste control
- Steel, concrete and quarry materials
- Grouting
- PPE & HSE equipment
- Tools and consumables
- Security
- Environmental and sediment control.
“We will communicate information on specific supply opportunities on the ICN Gateway project page as it becomes available, with local industry able to register its interest against them,” ICN procurement engineering specialist Jatin Patel said.
“It’s important that interested companies ensure their Gateway profile is not only up to date but puts their best business foot forward.”
For more information on the project, go to the Gawara Baya website.
To lodge an EOI, go to the Gawara Baya Gateway page.
