Blade runs through Ballan

By Meg Kennedy

Hundreds of members from the Ballan community took the opportunity to sign their name on a gigantic piece of modern history last week.
The local community was invited to an ‘up-close-and-personal’ event with a massive 68-metre long wind turbine blade on Wednesday 27 March, to be part of the Moorabool North Wind Farm, currently under construction.
The 20,000kg blade was on display at Crossroads Trading as attendees, including local school children, signed their names.
But it wasn’t just locals who peeked at the massive piece of infrastructure – a trio of wedge-tailed eagles were also seen soaring above the site.
“The atmosphere at the event and feedback received has been overwhelmingly positive,” said Helen Kennedy, Goldwind Community Engagement Manager for the Moorabool Wind Farm.
“Events provide such a great opportunity to build a respectful relationship between the project and the community,” she said.
The blade will make up part of Turbine 2 at Moorabool North Wind Farm, located near Fiskville.
At its tip, the full turbine will reach to 171m high, and will weigh 590 tonnes.
“Goldwind looks forward to welcoming members of the local community to future wind farm open days once the project is complete,” said Ms Kennedy.
Road speed reductions will continue throughout the south-west of Ballan as components of the turbines are delivered to the site.
Reductions down to 60km/h will be in place along sections of the Ballan-Meredith Road and Ballan-Egerton Road until approximately May.
To receive weekly SMS text updates to your mobile on the deliveries, text your name to 0418 975 014.
More information can be found at www.mwftraffic.com, by phoning 1800 019 660, emailing [email protected] or visiting the Information Centre at 120 Inglis Street, Ballan.