A REAL-LIFE royal graced the south-west with his presence yesterday in order to see an enormous renewable energy project up close.
Denmark’s Crown Prince Frederik called in to the Macarthur wind farm site as part of a six-day Australian visit focused on clean power, sustainability and food technologies. The 43-year-old father-of-four was without his Tasmanian-born wife, Crown Princess Mary, who instead spent the morning in Broken Hill.
Prince Frederik was driven to the wind farm from Hamilton Airport and was first taken to see one of seven towers so far erected on site.
Danish company Vestas was chosen to provide all 140 turbines for the $1 billion joint venture between AGL and Meridian Energy, which will be capable of powering more than 220,000 Victorian homes.
The prince posed for photographs with business leaders including Vestas head Ditlev Engel and AGL chief executive Michael Fraser, along with Danish trade and investment minister Pia Olsen Dyhr.
His large coach then rumbled back along a gravel track and towards a marquee prepared for the occasion.
Decades have passed since a royal was last in the south-west and there was plenty of excitement among those gathered to welcome the prince.
The crowd included 16 students representing the Hawkesdale P12 College and Macarthur Primary School, including three who were able to give artwork and flowers to his royal highness.
Macarthur pupils Tahlia Purcell, 12, and Maddison Sharrock, 7, said they were nervous and excited to be part of the day.
The pair presented Prince Frederik with a drawing by Tahlia inspired by the wind farm, along with a bouquet gathered from the school garden. School principal Lynn Lyles said she was particularly pleased the prince took time to shake each student’s hand once formalities were over.
Prince Frederik also met the three landowners who are hosting the 420-megawatt wind farm.
These include cattle farmers Hamish and Anna Officer and their daughters Indi, 8, and Gabby, 6. The couple will have 46 turbines on their property, including one 700 metres from their home, but said they were not concerned by reports of health problems associated with wind farms.
“Construction’s going really well — after the wet winter they had a bit of a hard time, but now it’s dried off and it’s going wonderfully,” Mrs Officer said. “Amazingly, with all that machinery, it’s not (a big disturbance).”
During his speech, AGL’s Mr Fraser said the royal visit highlighted the wind farm’s importance to both Australia and Denmark.
“Here in Australia it will make a big contribution to us meeting our 20 per cent renewable energy target.”
Moyne Shire mayor Jim Doukas was among council representatives invited to the function and said he was impressed by the prince’s down-to-earth attitude.
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