Participatory budgeting shapes Community Benefit Sharing Program

Central Queensland Power has welcomed Gladstone Regional Council’s endorsement of the Community Benefit Agreement (CBA) for the proposed Wooderson Solar Farm, marking an important step in shaping how the project can deliver lasting benefits for the local community.

The CBA includes a Community Benefit Sharing Program, which will be entirely funded and managed by the project.

Last year, CQP invited community groups and organisations near the Wooderson Solar Farm to take part in a participatory budgeting survey. The survey asked participants to identify local priorities and provide input into how benefit-sharing funding should be allocated during construction and operations.

Feedback from the survey helped shape the program’s focus areas, guiding principles and funding structure, alongside the findings of the Social Impact Assessment.

The resulting program reflects strong support for community facilities, local initiatives and long-term benefits for the Calliope area. It is designed to help direct funding towards initiatives that matter to the local community, with decisions guided by transparent principles and local needs.

The Community Benefit Sharing Program includes three funding streams:

Community Legacy Infrastructure and Initiatives will receive a minimum of 60 per cent of funding during construction. This stream is intended to support larger-scale community infrastructure and legacy initiatives. It does not apply during operations.

Calliope Valley Grants Program will receive up to 20 per cent of funding during construction and up to 60 per cent during operations. This stream is intended to support local community groups, projects and programs.

Local Education Partnership Program will receive up to 20 per cent of funding during construction and a minimum of 40 per cent during operations. This stream is intended to support education, skills and learning opportunities connected to the local area.

Find out more about Community Benefits here.

You can view the full Community Benefit Agreement here