“Last week the first top tower section and nacelle were installed using the 600-tonne crane, with an assembled rotor to be lifted this week,” Boco Rock Wind Farm manager, Adrian Oakey, said.

“This marks a major milestone for the project, and brings construction one step closer to commissioning in quarter one next year,” Mr Oakey said.

“Installation of our first complete wind turbine is a huge step forward, and marks the start of the next phase of construction.

“We’ve been making good progress so far this year, thanks to the hard work of the whole construction team.”

Early May saw the start of tower installation, with a 360- tonne crane used to install the base and mid-tower sections of over 14 turbines so far. 

Installation of the turbine follows six weeks of component deliveries, which will continue for another few months. 

Deliveries have been progressing smoothly, with another shipment of blades arriving at the Port of Eden this week.

“We have had a lot of positive feedback from the community during component delivery,” the project’s communications officer, Siobhan Isherwood, said.

“Rex J Andrews have been working hard throughout the transport phase, and support from the community has really helped make the process smooth and efficient,” Ms Isherwood said.

Other activities at the project site are also progressing well, with all major equipment now in place at the substation including the two 132kV transformers that came all the way from Newcastle Port. 

Of the electrical construction activities, the next to commence is line stringing of part of the transmission line on-site. 

Some of the line stringing will be undertaken using a helicopter, including at the substation, and at other key points along the transmission line.