This represents the first major works at the wind farm, which will generate 270MW to power up to 110,000 homes across Australia.

Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall visited the Sapphire Wind Farm Project site on Friday in time to see the first wind turbine foundation.

The 21 metre diameter, 3.7-metre deep hexagonal shaped concrete foundation was completed only 24 hours before the MP’s visit.

This is the first of 75 wind turbine foundations which will be constructed on the Sapphire Wind Farm Project. 

Each foundation requires approximately 590 m3 of concrete, which equates to approx. 100 truckloads from the on-site batching plant.

Each wind turbine foundation will support 3.6MW wind turbines, each with a hub height of 137 metres.

The remaining foundations will be progressively prepared and poured over the next four months ready for the arrival of the first wind turbine in November.

“Since we approved this project in 2013, CWP has been hard at work engaging landholders, manufacturing parts and finalising logistics for this impressive project,” Mr Marshall said.

“Now we’re seeing the first great leaps towards completion – and progress will only pick up from here.

Advancements in technology have allowed for the project to use fewer, larger turbines, which will produce a similar amount of energy with a far smaller footprint than initially planned. While this has allowed CWP Renewables to build 40 fewer turbines, it has introduced new logistical challenges.

“Starting from September, we will see blades and turbines start to pass through the region, destined for the Sapphire Wind Farm,” Mr Marshall said.

Progress on the Sapphire Wind Farm is advancing to plan with CWP Asset Management and all major subcontractors now on site with civil works and the upgrade of roads in and around the site continuing.