Just in time for Christmas, the SEC has announced their acquisition of the Delburn Wind Farm, which will see state’s first publicly owned wind generation project delivered right here in Gippsland by 2028. This move signals confidence in Gippsland’s continued role in energy generation and is hopefully the beginning of further investments to boost the region’s economic future.
Situated across Latrobe City and South Gippsland Shire Council, the region will play an essential role in the diversification of Victoria’s power supply alongside anticipated closure of coal-fired power stations.
In the announcement, SEC Chief Executive Officer, Chris Miller, highlighted that the acquisition shows their commitment to investing locally in Gippsland as they already have a high-capacity transmission network and a highly skilled workforce with a deep understanding of building and operating power generation.
Both Latrobe City and South Gippsland Shire Council welcome the news which will result in energy solutions and secure long-term career opportunities for the local workforce during economic change.
SEC expects the project to bring significant local economic benefits, including over 300 local jobs during construction and over $22 million in neighbour and community benefit sharing programs over 35 years.
Latrobe City Mayor, Councillor Sharon Gibson, was delighted by the announcement.
“This is incredibly exciting for Latrobe. We have powered the state for a hundred years and we’re ready to power it for a hundred more with our highly skilled workforce.”
“It is a delight to see the biggest investment the State Government has made since Loy Yang was built – they’re showing a significant commitment to our region. This is a signal that Latrobe will continue to have a role to play in the diversification of the power supply for years to come,” said Councillor Gibson.
Equally, South Gippsland Shire Council Mayor, Councillor Nathan Hersey is looking forward to the opportunities the project will bring.
“The Delburn Wind Project is expected to create around 300 local jobs and deliver significant long-term benefits for our communities. This is welcome news for the Latrobe Valley, South Gippsland and surrounding regions, representing a strong investment in Gippsland that will support local businesses, workers and the broader economy,” said the Councillor Hersey.