Lal Lal Wind Farms announces Community Benefit Fund recipients for 2019

Eleven community projects across Bungaree, Clarendon, Dunnstown, Elaine, Millbrook and Yendon have received grants to improve community facilities thanks to a $100,000 contribution from Lal Lal Wind Farms’ Community Benefit Fund.

Community members came together at Lal Lal Soldiers Memorial Hall on Wednesday 6 August to celebrate the recipients for the 2019 round. Recipients will use the funds to provide a benefit to the local community through purchasing new equipment or upgrading existing or new facilities.

Lal Lal Wind Farms Community Engagement Manager, Tracey Ward, said hundreds of locals would ultimately be beneficiaries of the grants.

“The Community Benefit fund is a key part of our commitment to strengthening our local communities and contributing to local sporting groups, community groups, education, culture and arts initiatives.

“We were very impressed by the calibre of applications we received from a diverse range of community groups, and I look forward to seeing the positive impacts these projects will have in our local community.

“We would like to thank all the applicants and congratulate the 2019 recipients. We look forward to continuing to contribute to the local community for many more years to come through the Community Benefit Fund,” said Ms Ward.

Since being established in 2017, the Community Benefit Fund has provided more than $220,000 in grants to projects that benefit communities located within 5km of the wind farm. Funding can be provided for local sporting groups, community groups, education, culture and arts initiatives or other community needs.

Donna Hart of the Clarendon Recreation Reserve said the funding would allow them to improve the existing car park.

“We’re very grateful to be receiving a grant to do this work that will benefit everyone who use the facilities.

“The Community Benefit Fund provides community groups an avenue for funding that we really need, and it’s wonderful to see large infrastructure projects taking a vested interest in improving the communities they operate in.”

There were 12 applications received during this funding round that were reviewed and assessed by Lal Lal’s Community Reference Group (CRG) which consists of volunteers who live in the local areas.

Applications for funding are assessed CRG, and final funding decisions are endorsed by the Lal Lal Wind Farms board. Applications are administered once a year. Community Benefit Fund applications open in May each year for the life of the project.

A full list of grant recipients for 2019 can be found overleaf.