Paul Makin

Journalist

The most anticipated project in the Shire and a game changer for many people north of the river has been given the official green light.

An Australian-first solar to hydrogen-based microgrid for the World Heritage Protected Daintree Rainforest will be signed off in a few days’ time at the Heritage Lodge Resort on Turpentine Road at Diwan.

Federal MP and Member for Leichardt Warren Entsch has told Newsport that the historic signing and agreement with Volt Advisory Group for the first stage of the Microgrid will happen on Monday night at 5pm.

Assistant Minister to the Minister for Industry, Energy and Emissions Reduction Tim Wilson will sign the document that finally sees the start of getting power to the people of the Daintree.

"It's a goer at last" says Mr Entsch who will be on hand to talk about Stage one. “The public are welcome to attend” he said, “this community microgrid will provide clean, reliable and affordable energy with no impact on the rainforest with a cable network placed under existing roads and easements”.

The world first grid will bring electricity to residents of the Daintree and make dirty generators that spew out millions of litres of diesel fumes each year into the world’s most beautiful rain forest, obsolete.

As a bonus, high speed internet will be provided to residents as part of the overall project.

The grid has been the talk of the rainforest for a long time especially among business owners who have been facing mounting fuel bills to keep generators running, not to mention the concern over pollution.

The first stage of the project will cover the area north of the Alexandra Range to Cape Tribulation