FLY-IN fly-out (FIFO) workers were still travelling from within Australia to Biala Wind Farm as of Wednesday but were being kept on site for longer to reduce their movement.
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The project never required overseas workers, however, for the past six months civil and electrical contractors have been flying in and out of South Australia to the wind farm located six kilometres south of Grabben Gullen.
"Some people have flown to SA to here since the restrictions on the SA border came in, but the strategy now is to keep people on site for longer so they're not travelling," owner Beijing Jingneng Clean Energy (BJCE) Australia's deputy general manager Derek Powell said.
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Although civil and electrical contracts have started to end, the project will soon require workers to construct wind turbines arriving at Biala, who will be sourced from contractor Goldwind Australia's wind farms in TAS, VIC and NSW.
"Some people will need to travel from those areas to come to the site but it's not intended that they'll fly backwards and forwards," Mr Powell said.
There are no current border controls in NSW or VIC and Mr Powell said it was up to contractors to manage flights.
Already there are seven Goldwind Australia employees at Biala Wind Farm and all FIFO workers are staying in rented houses, motels or apartments close to the wind farm, in Crookwell and Goulburn.
Goldwind also has employees about 14km away at the BJCE Australia-owned Gullen Range Wind Farm in Bannister who could be brought across to Biala.
Grabben Gullen resident Kevin Rogers said he was concerned FIFO workers could spread coronavirus to the Upper Lachlan Shire.
"The threat of COVID-19 to our ageing community is very real," he said.
Collector Wind Farm is also relying on FIFO workers, predominantly from SA. Owner Ratch Australia said it had been keeping detailed records of personnel movements and making use of as much local expertise as possible including Divalls Earthmoving.
Any workers showing sign of illness would remain at home, Mr Powell said.
"We are watching the situation closely and we want to keep our staff and community safe," he said.
"Obviously we're going to comply with whatever comes out but at the moment there's nothing that stops those people travelling to work."
Construction sites are considered an essential service and can remain open under the government's coronavirus restrictions.
Mr Powell said if the government shuts construction sites then Biala Wind Farm could no longer support the shire's economy by booking accommodation and buying lunches from local cafes.
