macarthur windfarm - victoria

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The Macarthur Wind Farm was a milestone in Australia’s renewable energy development. At the time of delivery, it was the largest wind farm in the Southern Hemisphere, comprising 140 turbines with a generation capacity of 420 MW. The project was a cornerstone for Victoria’s clean energy targets and a complex feat of engineering, logistics, and community integration.

Trevor Hall held full delivery accountability for the contractor delivering the Macarthur Wind Farm. He was responsible for overseeing commercial performance, client relations, and stakeholder engagement across the entire project lifecycle.

Working closely with David (a HCE consultant), who served as Project Director, Trevor ensured that the project met its performance targets while maintaining safety, program certainty, and alignment with the client’s evolving expectations. Their combined leadership supported the execution of one of Australia’s most significant renewable infrastructure projects.

“Macarthur wasn’t just large in scale—it demanded scale in leadership, systems, and stakeholder focus. It was a true test of delivery maturity and alignment.”
— Trevor Hall

• Co-ordinating one of the largest wind farm construction efforts in the Southern Hemisphere
• Managing high-volume turbine logistics and foundation works across a vast regional footprint
• Integrating electrical and civil works with grid connection infrastructure
• Navigating local stakeholder concerns, environmental compliance, and community expectations
• Aligning multiple subcontractors and delivery teams to a common purpose

• Project delivered safely and to schedule, despite weather and regional logistical challenges
• Achieved all performance and quality metrics at scale
• Set a benchmark for utility-scale renewable delivery in Australia
• Strengthened working relationships with major energy clients and regional stakeholders

 The Macarthur Wind Farm reinforced the importance of strong alignment between commercial accountability and delivery leadership. Trevor’s executive oversight, paired with David’s day-to-day direction, exemplifies the model HCE Advisory now deploys: senior leadership grounded in delivery, focused on outcomes, and capable of guiding clients through complexity.

This project forms part of the lived experience that underpins HCE Advisory’s renewables delivery advisory across Australia.

Sundrop Farms is globally recognised as a pioneering example of sustainable agriculture—producing tomatoes at commercial scale using a unique combination of solar thermal energy, desalinated water, and controlled-environment horticulture. Located near Port Augusta, South Australia, the project represented a first-of-its-kind integration of energy, water, and agriculture technologies anywhere in Australia.

The success of the project required the delivery of highly complex infrastructure, precision systems, and commercial frameworks that would align investor expectations, operational needs, and future-proof environmental outcomes.

Trevor Hall provided strategic leadership for the project, guiding the integration of multiple disciplines—renewable energy, advanced water treatment, and automated horticulture—into a single functioning system. This marked a first in Australia, requiring Trevor to coordinate across investors, client stakeholders, regulatory frameworks, and delivery partners to de-risk the implementation of an unprecedented asset.

“This wasn’t just a technical challenge—it was a systems challenge. Energy, water and agriculture had to operate in harmony, with commercial clarity and delivery precision. Our job was to bring that vision to life.”
— Trevor Hall

In parallel, Struan Collins held accountability for the end-to-end delivery of the project—navigating execution complexity, commercial pressures, and multiple stakeholder expectations. Struan worked closely with the client, project financiers, and engineering teams to align scope, resolve delivery tensions, and ensure that the infrastructure performed to its world-class design intent.

• Integrating solar thermal energy with desalination and climate-controlled growing      environments—unprecedented in Australia
• Aligning international investor expectations with Australian delivery frameworks
• Managing complex procurement of bespoke systems from multiple global vendors
• Navigating utility interface requirements, regional logistics, and environmental approvals
• Maintaining cost, program, and performance assurance across intersecting delivery streams

• Successfully delivered a world-first infrastructure model for sustainable agriculture
• Achieved full integration of solar thermal, desalination and protected cropping systems
• Met investor performance requirements and client operational objectives
• Strengthened community and regional trust in innovative, climate-resilient infrastructure
• Created a global exemplar for sustainable food production in arid environments

Sundrop Farms remains a flagship example of complex systems integration and visionary project delivery. Trevor’s role in orchestrating the multi-technology solution and stakeholder alignment, combined with Struan’s hands-on execution and resolution of delivery interfaces, demonstrates the depth of real-world expertise that HCE Advisory brings to complex infrastructure projects.

This project continues to inform HCE Advisory’s work in renewables, water, and integrated systems delivery, particularly when innovation, investor alignment, and execution discipline must come together.

Located near Geraldton in Western Australia, the Mumbida Wind Farm was a significant renewable energy project developed to contribute to WA’s clean energy generation capacity. The project involved the construction of 55 MW of wind generation infrastructure across challenging regional terrain, supporting the state’s transition to a more sustainable energy mix.

Trevor Hall held full P&L accountability for the delivery of the Mumbida Wind Farm while at Leighton Contractors. His role covered strategic oversight, client and stakeholder engagement, commercial management, and execution governance for the full scope of works—including civil infrastructure, turbine installation, and electrical integration.

Trevor led the team through a high-performance delivery model, balancing regional constraints with strict program, safety, and quality targets.

“Delivering Mumbida required more than just construction execution—it was about aligning capability, community, and commercial discipline to deliver a renewable asset that would stand the test of time.”
— Trevor Hall

• Remote location and long supply chain logistics for major turbine components
• Coordinating  high-risk lifting and installation activities in exposed regional conditions
• Integrating with Western Power’s evolving grid connection protocols
• Maintaining tight program control across civil, mechanical and electrical interfaces

• Delivered safely and on budget under challenging environmental and regional conditions
• Met all performance and commissioning milestones
• Strengthened Leighton Contractors’ reputation in the Western Australian energy sector
• Supported  WA’s early-stage renewables rollout with a proven wind generation asset

The successful delivery of Mumbida Wind Farm demonstrated Trevor’s capability to lead complex regional energy projects from a whole-of-business perspective. It contributed directly to HCE Advisory’s hands-on understanding of renewable energy delivery, regional logistics, and integrated risk management, capability that now informs advisory support for energy clients across Australia.

 The Crookwell Wind Farm, located in the Southern Tablelands of New South Wales, is part of the state’s strategic transition toward clean, renewable energy. As one of the early utility-scale wind projects in the region, it carried both technical and commercial complexity, including stakeholder interface, power purchase agreement (PPA) alignment, and delivery risk management.

 John, one of HCE Advisory’s senior consultants, was appointed as Commercial Lead on the project, holding full accountability for optimising commercial outcomes across all parties. His role extended across contract management, risk mitigation, client and subcontractor engagement, and ongoing performance tracking.

John was a key contributor in ensuring that both the principal and the contractor achieved fair and commercially sustainable outcomes, even amid evolving delivery and operational dynamics.

“John’s work at Crookwell exemplified the type of leadership that creates value for all stakeholders—not just protecting margin, but enabling collaborative success across the entire delivery chain.”
— HCE Advisory

• Aligning commercial frameworks with project realities during construction
• Managing evolving delivery risks while maintaining fairness and commercial integrity
• Balancing multiple contract interfaces across procurement, construction, and operations
• Supporting client-side decision-making with clear, data-backed commercial insight

• Achieved commercially sustainable outcomes for all key delivery partners
• Strengthened relationships between principal, contractor, and supply chain
• Minimised variation disputes and supported smooth contract administration
• Enhanced project certainty through disciplined reporting and commercial controls

John’s leadership at Crookwell Wind Farm reflects HCE Advisory’s belief in value creation through commercial clarity and collaboration. His success in aligning risk, contract structures, and performance incentives helped drive one of NSW’s most effective early wind farm executions, leaving behind strengthened relationships and proven commercial systems.

This experience now supports HCE Advisory’s broader capability in commercial strategy, dispute prevention, and commercial delivery advisory across infrastructure and renewable energy sectors.

One of Australia's most complex and high, profile infrastructure projects had reached a critical phase, with a specific component facing performance pressure, delivery misalignment, and escalating cost and schedule risks. With a multi, billion, dollar budget and national interest in its success, the client sought independent, expert, led insight into how to recalibrate the program and unlock latent value.

HC Energy, supported by its specialist advisory arm HCE Advisory, assembled a dedicated team of seven senior consultants, including experts in:

• Strategic leadership
• Operational delivery
• Safety step change
• Technical methodology
• Program Controls
• Commercial performance
• Delivery governance

The team, led by Trevor Hall, undertook a structured, deep, dive investigation focused on a discrete but critical portion of the project. The review was designed to move beyond surface, level analysis, identifying root causes of delivery friction and articulating clear, actionable pathways to improvement.

“This wasn’t about producing another report, it was about real change. We brought truth, insight, and options the client could act on. And they did.”
— Trevor Hall

• Complex delivery environment with high stakeholder sensitivity and national significance
• Misalignment between delivery methodology and actual site conditions
• Erosion of program certainty, cost discipline, and safety performance
• Lack of common understanding between parties on risk ownership and delivery strategy
• Urgent need for credible, independent advice to reset delivery momentum

• Delivered a comprehensive strategic and operational review across six core delivery domains
• Identified and supported implementation of a revised delivery methodology
• Contributed to a program optimisation equivalent to 12 months in time recovery
• Facilitated a commercial and operational saving of approximately $70 million
• Strengthened client confidence and stakeholder alignment across the delivery ecosystem
• Provided a high, integrity, board, level report that enabled swift decision, making      and implementation

This engagement represents the best of what HC Energy and HCE Advisory offer, deep expertise, structured thinking, and practical leadership that moves beyond commentary to measurable outcomes.

Our approach allowed the client to reset expectations, restore delivery certainty, and create enduring value for all parties involved. The success of this assignment has become a reference point for how high, performing advisory teams can make a decisive impact on even the most complex megaprojects.

The Braemar Gas, Fired Power Station (Stage 2) was a significant private, sector energy infrastructure investment, developed to bolster Queensland’s power generation capacity and enhance grid stability. With a capacity of approximately 450 MW, it was one of the largest open, cycle gas turbine (OCGT) power stations built in Australia at the time, forming part of the broader transition to more efficient and flexible energy assets.

For the contractor engaged to deliver the project, this was a first, of, its, kind market entry into the power generation sector,  an opportunity to establish capability in a high, stakes, highly technical environment.

Trevor Hall was accountable for the strategic positioning, pursuit planning, and execution readiness that enabled the successful market entry. Working closely with both local delivery teams and an international technology partner, Trevor led the internal alignment effort, ensuring the business could credibly bid, win, and deliver in a sector where it had no prior operating history.

He focused on articulating client value, aligning capabilities with technical expectations, and building confidence in the proposed delivery model. Once secured, Trevor remained a key executive interface throughout the delivery phase, ensuring the relationship with the client was managed at the highest level.

“You don’t win market entry projects by being the cheapest, you win by being the most convincing that you’ll deliver. That takes strategy, substance, and total alignment.”
— Trevor Hall

• Entering a technically demanding and capital, intensive energy sector for the first time
• Aligning with a global OEM delivery partner to ensure integrated performance
• Managing risk and perception as a new entrant in a risk, averse client environment
• Ensuring absolute delivery certainty in a program, critical infrastructure project
• Building a legacy that extended beyond the project—into future power sector opportunity

• Successfully delivered a 450 MW gas, fired power station to the client’s specification
• Maintained delivery performance across safety, program, and quality expectations
• Built a trusted client relationship that extended beyond project completion
• Positioned the company as a credible Tier 1 power infrastructure provider, unlocking subsequent opportunities in the energy sector
• Demonstrated the effectiveness of a well, planned market entry strategy underpinned by delivery excellence

This project was more than a successful energy infrastructure outcome—it was a case study in how to thoughtfully and credibly enter a new market. Trevor’s strategic leadership ensured the business was not only prepared to win, but prepared to deliver, and in doing so, created the foundation for long, term participation in Australia’s evolving energy landscape.

This experience continues to inform HCE Advisory’s approach to market positioning, strategic pursuits, and new sector entry, especially for clients looking to diversify into regulated or high, complexity sectors.