It can be extremely challenging to navigate all of the requirements to getting a windfarm project approved, especially for developers who have not yet built, owned, or operated a wind farm in Western Australia.

Setting up a project for success means considering the whole project life-cycle, not just the stage you’re in. Andrew is able to review project planning documents from a constructability and operability mindset, ensuring smoother transitions between the development, pre-construction and construction phases.

For example, one aspect that is generally overlooked during Development is the layout, which includes internal roads, cable routes, substation location, and turbine positioning. Whilst it is likely that some changes to these items will be required as the project progresses and design matures, less changes will result in a better ongoing relationship with the landowners, neighbours and Shire.

Documents that Andrew can add value to include:

- Agreements to Lease;

- stakeholder engagement approach (landowners, neighbours, wider community, shires, emergency responders);

- environmental studies;

- wind monitoring campaigns;

- bushfire protocols; and

- Western Power requirements.

Prior to any contracts going out to tender, a solid set of tender documents are required. These must reflect the requirements of the approved Planning Permit, the requirements of each individual landholder, and the Owners engineering/technical requirements.

Now is the time to determine your preferred contracting strategy. Will you use a Turn Key EPC, or Split TSI, EBoP and CBoP ? Each option has its own inherent risks and rewards.

After the contracts are awarded, it is time to get on with the detailed design. This phase may be the last opportunity an Owner has to influence the design without incurring extra costs. It is also the time where the landowners can have their final input in to the layout, which will help prevent unforeseen issues further down the track.

Prior to construction commencing, there are many pre-construction conditions of the Planning Permit that will need to be met. These can include:
- Construction Management Plans
- Environmental Management Plans
- Traffic Management Plans
- Noise Complaint Response Plan
- Landscaping Plans
- Bushfire Management Plans

It is imperative that these documents are reviewed by someone who is familiar with the construction phase of the project, as getting approval for an updated/resubmitted plan may at best be time consuming, or, at worst, not happen at all.

Under construction!