“Our concern is making sure that one industry doesn’t inadvertently damage another, particularly tourism,” he said. “The Sturt Highway is a major freight route, but it’s also an important tourism corridor … grey nomads and other caravanners are a significant part of our local economy.”

Mr Dodds said the biggest concern wasn’t actually the length of the wind turbine blades which would probably come up from Geelong, it was the width of the tower sections, which would likely come from South Australia.

“Some of these loads are approximately 6.5 metres wide, while the two traffic lanes through Balranald Shire are only 3.5 metres each,” he said. “That means these loads effectively occupy both lanes … there are also pedestrian refuge islands, street lights, powerlines, and intersections to contend with.”

Mr Dodds said the council was keen to get ahead of any potential problems and had been working closely with Transport for NSW to try to get mitigating plans in place such as moving the widest loads at night, creating 26 heavy vehicle laybys along the Sturt Highway, and ensuring there was good communication about when the loads might move.

Mr Dodds said he was aware grey nomads talk to each other and, the worry was that, if the message got around that the Sturt Highway was difficult to travel because of wind farm construction, people may simply choose another route.

“Small towns such as Hay, Balranald and Euston depend heavily on passing visitors … they fill our caravan parks, buy fuel, eat at our hotels and cafés, visit our shops and spend money that helps keep local businesses operating,” he said. “My message to grey nomads is simple: please don’t avoid us!”

A Transport for NSW Spokesperson said it was continuing to work closely with key stakeholders and councils across South West NSW, including Balranald Shire Council, to support the safe and efficient operation of the network for all road users.

“Transport recognises the importance of the regional road corridor and local communities, freight operators and visitors travelling through,” they said.

Transport for NSW says long-term investment in key regional corridors is an important part of improving network capacity, safety and productivity, and the Australian and NSW Governments are jointly investing $1.74 billion in regional transport corridors.

It says this investment will deliver wider lanes and shoulders, overtaking lanes, pull-over bays, intersection upgrades, and pavement and bridge improvements along key freight routes, including the Golden Highway, Hunter Expressway, New England Highway, and the Sturt, Kidman and Newell highways.

The general advice for motorists travelling through the regions where renewables oversize and/or overmass (OSOM) are moving, is to slow down and exercise caution.

If grey nomads or others see a pilot or escort vehicle, and an oversized truck from the front, it is a matter of staying calm, slowing, down, moving as far to the left as possible, being prepared to stop, and following all instructions given by the traffic escort.

For drivers coming up to a large load from behind, it is again a matter of slowing down and being prepared for slow-moving traffic queues. Patience if the key. A safe opportunity to pass or overtake will be given. Clearly, motorists should not risk overtaking an OSOM load without ensuring the road ahead is clear, and they must be prepared for unexpected wind buffeting when passing.

If and when the NSW Independent Planning Commission grants final approval for the Baldon Wind Farm, construction will probably begin at some stage next year.

• Have you ever come across a wind turbine being transported? Was it a big problem, or just part of the Big Lap experience? Comment below.