South Australia's biggest wind farm, at Snowtown in the state's mid-north, is about to be completed ahead of schedule and, unlike some other wind energy developments, enjoys strong community backing.

Trustpower project manager Jim Pearson says locals have been keen on the project since its early days.

"One thing that we're really appreciative of is the local community here in and around Snowtown. We've had fantastic support since stage one was built and commissioned back in 2008 right through to this project," he said.

The first stage had 47 turbines and another 90 have been added as the second stage to ensure the wind farm can power about 230,000 homes.

Mr Pearson says adverse weather did not delay construction.

"It's been 22 months since we first broke ground. We had towers coming in from overseas and in Whyalla, we had components coming in from Denmark, we had other components coming in from China," he said.

"We had the wettest June and equal wettest July on record last winter and in January and February [this year] as people know we had 13 days over 40 degrees, so we've had some pretty challenging conditions."

Mr Pearson says construction had been due for completion by next September but now will be over to allow switching-on this month.

The turbines dot the Barunga and Hummocks Ranges along almost 30 kilometres and taking in the properties of 24 landowners.

"They can continue to farm their land as is normal and we work with them to manage our activities along with their activities," Mr Pearson said.

Farmer happy with deal to host turbines

Sorry, this video has expired Locals embrace wind farm

Barunga Gap farmer Paul McCormack has turbines on his land and the closest to his house is about one kilometre away.

Farmers are paid royalties as the turbines generate power.

"It was a bit of a no-brainer," Mr McCormack said. "This is in grazing country, this doesn't affect my sheep, they're totally oblivious to the turbines.

"We deliberately reduced our stock numbers (during construction), we were very aware of the working at the site, whether it be roadwork or all the formative work.

"It does impact in that time, but now the project is near completion there's very little indication or situation where that it would impact on your farming enterprise."

Mr McCormack says locals have supported the wind power development because of the area's geography.

"We haven't got the deep valleys or the high hills that some have, it's rolling hills," he said.

"When the wind and atmospheric conditions are in a certain quarter, you will hear as though it's a large vehicle coming down the road but personally I don’t sleep in a tent on my front lawn, I sleep in a nice comfortable home so when I'm inside I'm completely oblivious."

Cropping land needs protection, farmer says

Cropping land needs protection from development, a Snowtown farmer warns. ( Gary Rivett: ABC News )

Mr McCormack says cropping areas of the state might not be as welcoming of turbines.

"[The value of] rich agricultural land ... I hope that the planners of tomorrow are respectful of that. We need to eat to live," he said.

"As farmers we live in times where developments, particularly mining developments, are encroaching on us and we've just got to learn how to deal with it."

Trustpower also has impressed many locals with the regional economic boost it has provided.

"We've had at our peak about 240 employees on site and over the 22 months that we've been on site to date we've averaged around 160 full-time employees on the project," Mr Pearson said.

"Probably about $85 million has been spent on South Australian goods and services and companies."

It also has partnered with the Snowtown Lions Club to support community projects, supplying goods to the local school and kindergarten and upgrading community facilities.

Faye Welke is president of the Lions Club and says everyone she speaks with is welcoming of Trustpower and the wind farming.

Ms Welke thinks the area has had a great opportunity to reinvent itself and move away from its dark recent history when murder victims were found in barrels at a local bank.

"We can say we have forgotten about what happened all those years ago, this has really added new life to the community of Snowtown," she said.