Walkaway, Western Australia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids WalkawayWestern Australia |
|
|---|---|
| Postcode(s) | 6528 |
| Area | [convert: needs a number] |
| Location | |
| LGA(s) | City of Greater Geraldton |
| State electorate(s) | Geraldton |
| Federal Division(s) | Durack |
Walkaway is a small town located in Western Australia. It's part of the City of Greater Geraldton area. In 2016, about 270 people lived there.
The name "Walkaway" comes from an old local word, "Wagga wah." This word described a bend in the nearby Greenough River. The name was first given to the railway station when a train line was built from Geraldton in 1887.
Contents
Trains and History
Trains played a big part in Walkaway's history. In 1894, a private railway company, the Midland Railway Company, built a line connecting Walkaway to the Eastern Railway near Perth. This helped the town grow, as more people and goods could travel.
However, things changed. During the First World War, there weren't enough workers. Also, in 1915, a new government-owned train line was built nearby. These things caused the town to become less busy.
Green Energy Projects
Walkaway is a great place for making clean, green energy! Several projects near the town create electricity using natural resources. As of 2014, these projects produced 162 Megawatts of power. That's enough to power many homes!
The area around Walkaway is perfect for more green energy. Future plans include more wind and solar power. They are also looking into other types of clean energy. These include solar thermal, geothermal, bioenergy, and ocean energy.
Walkaway Wind Farm
The Walkaway Wind Farm is about 9 kilometers east of Walkaway. It was finished in August 2005. This farm has 54 giant wind turbines. Each turbine is 80 meters tall. Their blades are 40 meters long. Each one can make 1.8 Megawatts of power. There are plans to make this wind farm even bigger in the future.
Mumbida Wind Farm
The Mumbida Wind Farm is 5 kilometers east of Walkaway. It's a 55 Megawatt project. It was built by two companies working together. The Mumbida Wind Farm started working in 2013. It uses special 2.5 Megawatt wind turbines. These were the first of their kind used in Australia. This wind farm can also be made larger later on.
Greenough River Solar Farm
The Greenough River Solar Farm uses the sun to make electricity. The first part of this project makes 10 Megawatts of power. It started working in 2012. When it opened, it was the biggest solar power plant in Australia.
The solar farm is about 30 kilometers east of Walkaway. The second part of the project will add another 30 Megawatts. This will make the farm even more powerful.
