Neoen acknowledges the Barunggam people, Traditional Owners of the land on which Western Downs Green Power Hub will harvest and store the energy of the sun. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present.

Community Benefits

Community Benefits

Community Benefit-sharing Program

We believe in sharing the benefits of renewable energies with the communities we operate in.

On this asset, Neoen is distributing $100,000 annually to support local community initiatives in the following growth areas.

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ARTS, CULTURE & EVENTS

Fostering creativity and connection in the community through art, culture & community events.

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Energy efficiency & ENVIRONMENT

We could provide grants to make rooftop solar and batteries more affordable for community centres or for local conservation initiatives.

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DISASTER RELIEF & EMERGENCY SERVICES

We can support communities impacted by natural disasters near our project site or to local emergency services groups.

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EDUCATION AND TRAINING

Addressing local skills development and adding value to educational opportunities

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FIRST NATIONS INITIATIVES

We can allocate funds to local First Nations community for heritage conservation and self determined initiatives.

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HEALTH AND WELLBEING

Contributing to improved health and wellbeing outcomes in regional communities

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APPLY FOR A GRANT

  • The Western Downs Community Benefit Fund accepts applications across a 4-6 week period in September/October every year.
  • The program targets the local areas surrounding our Western Downs solar farm. This includes the towns of Dalby, Chinchilla, Kogan, Tara and Miles and surrounding areas.
  • Applications are completed online, and managed by the Community Enterprise Foundation.
  • The Community Benefit Fund Advisory Committee will assess your application and tell you what they decide.
  • When your grant project is complete, you must give us a report. The report needs to include project highlights, photos and/or media, and a grant acquittal which details how you spent the funds.
Apply now

ARTWORK

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Neoen, under its Sustainability Framework, has a commitment to create an artwork on all its projects with a capacity of over 50 MW. The artwork must celebrate renewable energy and local culture.

The Operations & Maintenance (O&M) office at the Western Downs Green Power Hub project site is proudly showcasing the artwork commissioned by Neoen and incorporating designs from two local artists – Charlie Chambers Jnr & Tanya Kirkegaard.

Titled “Powering Life”, the artwork portrays the significance of the sun through the Bunya nut, as both a source of renewable energy harvested by our solar farm and as a giver of life to native flora and fauna such as the blue tongue lizard, bandy bandy snake, emu, koala, kangaroo, ants, and bees. It also depicts the Condamine River, which is an important shared resource for various First Nations groups in the region.

Tanya Kirkegaard is an artist and Bigambul woman from Goondiwindi. Charlie Chambers Jnr is an artist from the Jarowair tribe of the Toowoomba, Dalby, and the Bunya Mountain region.

Both artists were guided in their creative process by Barunggam Elder Averil Dillon. Neoen was supported in this project by arts project management company, Onespace.

We were delighted to have Neoen sponsor Dalby’s Delicious & DeLIGHTful Festival again in 2023. Their contribution assisted the Community celebrate its diversity with a range of very successful activities including the Flag Parade, the Multicultural Dance Competition, Colour Blast Glow in the Dark Edition fun run and the spectacular Lantern Parade just to name a few. Thank you Neoen!

Judy Webster

President, Dalby Delicious and Delightful Festival Committee
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