When a regional wind farm gets the green light from the government, the owners are expected to work with communities to “design economic benefits” that “consider the needs and priorities” identified by locals.
This often comes in the form of community benefit funds.
But as the energy shift progresses, people in towns like Skipton are no longer willing to settle for benefits like sports gear or grants from large companies.
What’s going on: At the September 22 meeting, Corangamite Shire Council resolved not to object to the state planning department’s approval of the 62-turbine Moreton Hill Wind Farm, about 5km from Skipton, which will be able to power about 260,000 homes a year.
The project, owned by Squadron Energy, is within a Renewable Energy Zone and will use underground power lines to connect to Berrybank Terminal Station.
Councillor Ruth Gstrein told the meeting that rather than a community benefit scheme delivering “footy jumpers and bits and pieces”, she’d like to see “wind farm operators up in that area actually working together and producing some sort of legacy project for the Skipton-Lismore area”.
“I think that would be much better received in the long term,” she said.
Go big or go home: Mayor Kate Makin told the Brolga previous benefits from other developers in the area had amounted to “netball dresses or lawnmowers”.
“It needs to be the bigger things; maybe it's a childcare centre, maybe it's a new healthcare centre, something the community really needs … that's how they could make those lasting impressions on the community rather than just giving out little little grants here and there,” she said.
Nick Cole, a sheep and cattle farmer near Derrinallum and a local councillor, said the scale of the Moreton Hill project should result in community projects of significance.
“There are only so many $20,000, $30,000 projects you can do in an area,” he told the Brolga. “They're making massive investments, and therefore massive returns. I don't see why the community should have to bear the brunt of it and not get something out of it.”
What does Skipton need? Cole suggested the Moreton Hill owners could look at building housing for its construction workers that was then passed onto the community.
“If one of these companies gave the community, for example, a million dollars [upfront, for] the life of the project over 30 years … we could get that project up and running.”
What does Squadron think? Squadron Energy’s Jessica Kite told the Brolga the company believes “community benefits should create enduring value for the region”.
She said community information sessions in Skipton and Linton had led to feedback that “highlights a strong interest in initiatives that strengthen local infrastructure, services, workforce opportunities and community wellbeing”.
Do they walk the walk? At a project in Dubbo in western NSW, Squadron built an advanced wastewater treatment plant. In nearby Wellington in NSW, Squadron refurbished an unused aged care centre for worker accommodation that will be returned to the community after construction finishes. In central Queensland it contributed to upgrading telecommunications infrastructure.
Getting results: Claudia Hodge is the director of non-profit Community Power Agency, which helps communities benefit from renewable energy projects.
“It's not a one-size-fits-all approach, but the best examples we've seen are really where developers build a really strong relationship and trust with their host communities,” she told the Brolga.
She said it was crucial for communities to be organised, so they can work with local councils and the developer to achieve goals, “rather than being on the backslide”.