Wind Prospect - Brisbane Office

NEW MARKETS IN WIND PROSPECT'S SCOPE
12 May 2004

Wind Prospect is aspiring to expand into new wind energy markets across eastern Australia and further afield with the opening of their latest office in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.

Wind Prospect has been a pioneer in wind energy since the early nineties and is continuing to be an industry leader, with strategic vision driving the company's success.

The rapidly growing company has doubled the number of offices in the last 18 months with five new branches across the UK, Ireland and Australia.

The Brisbane office will house Simon Beed, Environmental Manager, who is relocating from McLaren Vale, with the vision to expand on the company's tremendous successes in receiving planning approvals for over 380MW in South Australia. Simon has been an integral member of this successful outfit and is looking to deliver even more renewable energy successes from the new office.

Also based in the new office will be Development Manager, James Pennay, who is returning to his home town after being based in Wind Prospect's development head quarters in Bristol, UK since 2001. The team that James has been working amongst recently received the 2003 Developer's Developer Award, which is voted for by peers in the British Wind Energy Association. The experiences gained in the UK will be valuable in these newly developing markets.

James Pennay, Wind Prospect's Development Manager, said:

"We are aiming to repeat the successes of our South Australian office over on this side of the country and further a field. With over 60,000 wind turbines globally, it is time for this part of the world to embrace this proven technology."

This sentiment was echoed by Michael Vawser, Wind Prospect's General Manager: "The new office creates great scope for Wind Prospect's expansion, not only in Australia but new export markets as well. We are also extremely pleased to have James on board, with his experience in the most difficult planning environment in the world, the UK, to lead the team in Brisbane."

This recent expansion follows tremendous success across South Australia, where in the last couple of years Wind Prospect have had over 380MW of wind farms approved and in the UK where 150MW have recently been approved. These projects alone will equate to the electricity consumption of 320,000 residential homes and will save 1,320,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions per year.

The equivalent to seventy percent (70%) of Brisbane's residential electricity supply, for the 1.7 million habitants, could be supplied by the approved projects that Wind Prospect has been involved in since its formation.

Ends

Notes For Editors

1. Wind Prospect Pty Ltd is a company that includes as its shareholders Wind Prospect Ltd based in the U.K, and it's Australian management. Both individually and collectively, these companies are among the largest and most experienced wind energy developers in the industry today.

2. Wind Prospect Ltd's success in development, construction and operations has been based on over a decade of experience, flexibility and a pioneering spirit.

In 2002 Wind Prospect Ltd project managed the construction of 60% of the wind farms commissioned in the UK and in 2003 were awarded the BWEA Developer's Developer Award following the planning success for over 150MW, both onshore and offshore in the UK.

At present Wind Prospect Ltd operate nearly 50 turbines. With involvement in over 850MW of approved projects in UK, Ireland and Australia, they are now also looking to expand into wave energy development in the UK.

3. The legislation for a 2% Mandatory Renewable Energy Target (where all suppliers and large consumers of electricity must source 2% of their electricity from new renewable energy generators by the year 2010) was reviewed during 2003, and a report was released to the federal government in September 2003. In the near future the industry should know whether the targets will be raised, extended beyond 2020, or remain static.

4. The local manufacture of wind turbine components, and hence the creation of significant numbers of employment opportunities, is principally dependent upon the federal government substantially increasing the existing MRET provisions.

5. Wind energy development in the eastern states has been slow moving due in most part to the possession of a lower wind resource than the southern states. Organisations such as the Sustainable Energy Development Authority have been working to boost the research into the potential for wind energy in the eastern states, and have produced a comprehensive 'Wind Atlas' for NSW.

For further information please contact:

James Pennay, Development Manager

Simon Beed, Environmental Manager

Wind Prospect Pty Ltd
5th Floor
495 Boundary Street
Spring Hill
Brisbane
QLD 4000 Australia
t: +61 (0) 7 3839 4500
f: +61 (0) 7 3839 4511

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	Wind Prospect Pty Ltd, 144 Main Road, McLaren Vale, South Australia 5171 t: +61 (0)8 832 39322 f: +61 (0)8 832 38111 e: admin@windprospect.com.au