Man dies in met-mast accident at site of massive Queensland wind project

A man has died in a workplace accident at the site of the proposed Proserpine wind farm, a 900MW project that is in the very early stages of development on Gia People Country in Queensland’s Whitsunday Region.

It is understood that the man, a worker in his 30s, was killed on Thursday after falling roughly 20 metres from a meteorological mast – a tower used to measure the wind characteristics at a proposed project generation site (similar to the picture above).

Media reports have suggested the man fell when the met-mast collapsed (although some had mistakenly identified it as a turbine), but a spokesperson from Proserpine wind farm said on Friday that investigators are still working to determine the cause of the tragic accident.

“We are shocked and saddened to learn of the death of a contractor at the project site in Proserpine,” the spokesperson said in a statement emailed to Renew Economy.

“Staff are currently on site working with authorities and supporting family and colleagues.

“Our thoughts and condolences are with the contractor’s family at this very difficult time.”

Renewable Energy Partners announced its plans for the huge Queensland wind farm roughly two years ago, which it proposes to build in two 450MW stages.

The company is behind the “Battery of the North” – up to 1400MW and eight hours of pumped hydro storage planned for inland from Mackay – is also looking at a four hour big battery to be built next to the Proserpine wind farm, possibly sized at 100MW/400MWh.