RES Reaches Out To Local Businesses

KCCI president Jason Erbacher with lead project manager Toby Coates, from Tarong West Wind Farm developer RES

May 29, 2026

Tarong West Wind Farm developers RES hosted the Kingaroy Chamber of Commerce & Industry’s recent meet’n’greet, ensuring a big crowd turned up to hear more about the project.

The get-together, held at the KCCI’s “The Hub” office in Kingaroy Street, provided an opportunity for contractors to connect with local business people ahead of the start of construction of the $1.5 billion project.

The evening also attracted a strong contingent of accommodation providers, some of whom have previously expressed concerns about plans to develop a camp near Kingaroy to house project workers.

RES project manager Toby Coates introduced representatives from the key companies which are involved in Tarong West: head contractor Vestas Wind Systems, civil contractor MPK and electrical contractor Consolidated Power Projects (CPP).

These contractors are looking to connect with local businesses and suppliers to engage with the Tarong West project.

Mr Coates said it was important that the economic benefits from a huge project such as Tarong West were shared with the local business community.

He urged companies to register their interest with the ICN Gateway as soon as possible.

Mr Coates said 1531 companies had already registered, with just over 1000 in Queensland, including 62 from Toowoomba and 53 from the Western Downs but only 30 from the South Burnett.

He said the project had a target of employing 30 per cent of the workforce from across the three local government areas, and 10 per cent of the actual money spent locally.

Roles were not just be available in earthworks or electrical works as a lot of other businesses would also be involved; apprenticeship opportunities would also be available.

After the wind farm comes online, the aim would be for 80 per cent of employees to live locally, although in this operational phase, the number of FTE employees required should be about 20.

Mr Coates said the project had been in development for about seven years; all key approvals were now in place to build 97 turbines with a targeted construction starting date in September.

The aim was for Tarong West to be completed in 38 months.

The first stages would include road upgrades and the development of new access tracks.

The project would also include the construction of three new substations, two of which would be built by CPP and one by Powerlink; a 275kV transmission line already crossed the site.

Ownership of the project will pass to RES’s sister company, Innagreen Investments, as soon as construction starts with RES maintaining responsibility for construction management.

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The KCCI used the opportunity of the meet’n’greet to launch the 2nd (and updated) edition of their “Supplier Capability Catalogue”, which provides information about 53 local businesses.

Copies of the new catalogue were given to representatives from each of the Tarong West project contractors.