A contingent of around 30 local residents travelled by coach, sponsored by TAFE CLC at Narrandera, to the Avonlie Solar Farm at Sandigo last Thursday to be part of what is claimed to be the beginning of the largest project the town has ever seen.
Minister for Science, Innovation and Technology and Minister for Skills and Training Alister Henskens said Australia was committed to the elimination of fossil fuels and transitioning to sustainable energy sources that would not impact on the global environment for generations to come.
Managing Director (CEO) of the company behind the project in Australia Ross Rolfe said the Iberdrola was the third largest producer of wind and solar power in the world.
Establishing in the Riverina was another step in the right direction for a cleaner and safer energy environment.
Narrandera Wiradjuri Elder Michael Lyons reminded the directors of the company that they were guests on the land they were to occupy and when they left they should take all the structures away and leave the land to regenerate to how it was now.
General Manager of the solar farm Glen Thomson explained how the local economy would benefit from accommodation to dining with a strategy to employ a certain percentage of local workers from the Narrandera Shire with training and ongoing support provided in the construction of the massive enterprise.
Narrandera Aboriginal Elder Michael Lyons conducted a smoking ceremony and presented Mr Thomson with a message stick which is a great honour in Wiradjuri culture. It is regarded as the key to enter and respect the land where Avonlie is located.
He also gifted one of his artworks which will hang in the site office and be used as a logo on employees’ workwear.
Narrandera Mayor Neville Kschenka and several local councillors enjoyed a boxed luncheon provided by courtesy of the Narrandera Business Group and during lunch the Iberdrola and Beon personnel offered to answer any questions about the development.
The crowd appeared visibly impressed by the infrastructure already in place at the site and one participant referred to it as a “satellite city of Narrandera”.
This article appeared in the Narrandera Argus, 17 March 2022.
