Local Benefits
For Your Community
- $120,000 annual Community Benefit Fund
- 7 permanent full-time staff who all live in the surrounding community
- Ongoing opportunities for local businesses to support and work on the project throughout operations. During construction, the project created over 230 jobs.
Community benefit-sharing program
We believe in sharing the benefits of renewable energies with the communities we operate in. The Bulgana Green Power Hub has made an annual commitment of $120,000 to be available under its Community Benefit Fund.
This fund is available through a yearly, open & competitive grants process administered by the Northern Grampians Shire Council, to support local projects and initiatives that demonstrate impact in one of the following growth areas:
Arts, Culture & Events
Supporting arts, music & local tourism initiatives aimed at connecting the communities & celebrating regional culture
Energy Efficiency & Environment
Making installation of rooftop PV or batteries at community centres more affordable and supporting conservation of the local environment & biodiversity
Disaster Relief & Emergency Services
Supporting communities affected by natural disasters near our project site or initiatives to better equip local emergency services
Education & Training
Addressing local skills development and funding educational programs such as scholarships, with a focus on encouraging Women & Girls in STEM
First Nations
Health & Wellbeing
Apply for a grant
The 2024 Community Benefit Fund is accepting applications from 3 June 2024 to 31 July 2024.
Applications are administered by the Northern Grampians Shire Council. Before you apply, check that your project or initiative meets one of the Community Growth Areas (mentioned above). Small grants up to $5,000 and large grants up to $20,000 are available each financial year.
The council, on behalf of us, will ask each applicant to submit an impact report covering project highlights, photographs and/or media, and a grant acquittal detailing how funding from the grant was spent.
Year 11 students from Marian College Ararat with Neoen’s Asset Manager, Joshua Lowndes, at the Bulgana Green Power Hub.
Image Courtesy: Central Grampians Local Learning and Employment Network
PREVIOUS GRANT RECIPIENTS
St Arnaud Community Garden
An updated watering system and equipment to build the community garden.
Great Western Racing and Recreation Reserve
Installation of heating and cooling systems backed by own solar and battery units in the building.
St Arnaud Neighbourhood House
Accessible entrance at the community centre & roof renovation for its varandah.
Navarre Memorial Hall
Supporting repairs at the Navarre Public Hall following damages from floods in 2022.
Stawell Primary School
Creation of an interactive and Indigenous garden for educating students in sustainability and local culture.
Great Western Future Committee
Funds to get a master plan designed for a Memorial Park in the Great Western.
Landbourough Primary School
Support for the gardening program to train students in cooking healthy food and catering for community volunteering events.
Stawell Brass Band
Replacement of old musical instruments to foster local talent.
Grampians Field and Game Australia
Creation of a wheelchair accessible toilet and shower.
Halls Gap Neighbourhood House
IT support and equipment to offer community printing and digital services.
Buloke and Northern Grampians Landcare Network
Creation of two green houses to propagate native plants.
St Arnaud Citizens Band Inc
Room repairs and upgrades.
Swifts Netball and Football Club
Installation of an electric scoreboard to engage community members.
Stawell Pony Club
Support for works for a ditch jump.
St Arnaud Pony Club
Replacing jump wings for better safety of the riders and their horse/pony.
Stawell Railway Station Galley
Purchase of new chairs for community members.
St Arnaud Community Resource Centre
Kitchen upgrades to support food donations and cooking coaching for disadvantaged communities.
Halls Gap Caravan Park Recreation Reserve Committee
Supporting installation of a large shade sail for the playground in Halls Gap.
Navarre Sports Association
Community display board – upgrades include an electronic scoreboard with other functions like showing movies.
Pebble Church Heritage Association Inc
Supporting repairs and conservation works to enable ongoing use of the Church by community.
Stawell and District Angling Club
Improving camping experiences and reduced volunteering time – replacing generator with electricity from solar panels and batteries to power the toilet block.
St Arnaud RSL
Increasing available funding to support members – purchase and installation of solar panels resulting in cost savings.
Stawell West Primary School
Bike Safety Program – bikes for their own Bike Ed program, to increase the physical activity amongst students.
Kooreh Memorial Hall
Improving safety through upgrades to infrastructure around toilet facility.
St Arnaud and District Orchid Society
Orchid Show – equipment purchase for organising the first show in two years.
St Arnaud Resource Centre
Learning and development – three new computers to enhance participants’ computer skills.
Swifts Great Western Cricket Club
Purchase of matchday balls for all levels of competition. Funds saved will result in lower registration fees for junior participants.
Stawell Performing Arts Company
Brand development – creation of logo, website, and promotional banners to raise brand awareness and membership numbers.
Navarre Historical Society Inc
Purchase and installation of a Split system to provide a suitable environment for volunteers and visitors.
Stawell Gymnastics Club
Fitness wheel to enhance the quality and diversity of gymnastics equipment available to the growing number of participants.
Stawell City Brass Band
Purchase of a baritone horn to provide diversity of instruments to attract new members.
Stawell Golf Club Inc
Improving club facilities – purchase and installation of practice.
Skene Street Specialist School
Strong Connected Communities – towards a new bus
Stawell Primary School
Bike Safety for the community – bikes, scooters and equipment for their own Bike Ed program, to share with other schools and Early Years
St Arnaud Sports Stadium Association
St Arnaud Sports Stadium roof repairs
St Arnaud Community Action Network
Encouraging Engagement- quarterly newsletter of events in and around St Arnaud
Stawell urban Landcare group
School holiday nature program
St.Arnaud Country Music Club Poets
Poet’s Breakfast – new stage
Stawell Tennis Club
Game Set Match ( Juniors ) – new racquets, nets and tennis ball machine
Grampians Community Health
New Community Car to Transport People all Ages & Abilities – towards new car purchase to take residents without the means to medical appointments out of town and Melbourne
Paradise Hall Committee Inc
Paradise Hall kitchen upgrade – new kitchen cupboards
MARNOO INC.
MARNOO HALL COMMUNITY HUB STAGE 1 – a compliant front door and unisex disabled toilet
Grampians Field and Game
Grampians Field & Game-Riachella Range equipment improvements
Stawell Vintage Tractor & Engine Club Inc
Stawell Vintage Tractor & Engine Rally – to allow for the hire of children’s mini modified tractor for trips around the showgrounds
Swifts / Gt Western Cricket Club
Stage 1 – Community Cricket Coaching – Ball Machine
Stawell Golf Club Inc
Enhancing the Arts in Stawell – shipping container and electrical works for co-location of musical arts group
Friends of the Grampians Rail Trail
Grampians Rail Trail Surfacing: the last link final section to be upgraded to public use on rail trail
Concongella Primary School
Mini wind turbine and solar panel for the school. View video to learn more.
Great Western Recreation Reserve
Solar Power
Joel Joel Fire Brigade
Community Tanker Replacement
Stawell Senior Citizens
Replacement of Chairs
Stuart Mill Progress Association
Stuart Mill Disability Swing Playground Development
St Arnaud Music Poets Breakfast
Poetry and Pancakes event.
Vision St Arnaud
Iron & Clay Young Persons Project.
Stawell Agricultural Society Inc
Defib Application
St Arnaud Community Resource Centre
St Arnaud Community Kitchen.
Victoria State Emergency Service Stawell Unit
Mobile repeater project.
Great Western Primary School
Great Western Primary School Bike Education
Great Western Future Committee
Great Western Outdoor Cinema
Stawell Centre Riding for the Disabled
Upgrade disabled toilet facilities.
Community Association of Halls Gap Inc
Equipping the shade shelter in the Halls.
Gap Botanic Garden for Work and Recreation Joel Joel Public Hall
Joel Joel Hall Upgrade.
East Grampians Health Services
Improving the comfort of patients who undergo dialysis treatment
St Arnaud Pony Club
St Arnaud Pony Club Yard Complex
