Great South West sustainable communities fund

About the Great South West sustainable communities fund

Pacific Blue’s Great South West (GSW) Sustainable Community Fund shares the benefits of the Portland, Yambuk, and Codrington Wind Farms with the surrounding communities.

The GSW Sustainable Community Fund is a part of Pacific Blue’s Community Benefit Sharing Program, which has provided more than $4.9 Million to over 1000 projects across Australia since 2005. In the GSW Region alone, the Fund has supported 450 projects, totaling more than $2.1 Million.

Pacific Blue’s GSW (Codrington/Yambuk) and GSW (Portland) Sustainable Community Funds shares the benefits of Codrington, Yambuk and Portland Wind Farms with the surrounding communities, providing long-lasting social, economic and environmental value that goes beyond the life of the wind farm.

The GSW (Codrington/Yambuk) and GSW (Portland) Sustainable Community Fund operates on a biannual model, which means eligible community groups and not-for-profit organisations are encouraged to apply for project funding every second year from a pool of:

Codrington and Yambuk have an allocation of $88,000
Portland has an allocation pool of $284,000

In 2023, Pacific Blue doubled the grant funding, and also removed the $10,000 cap, providing opportunities for community organisations to partner and work together on projects that deliver a greater community impact.

The Great South West (Codrington/Yambuk) and Great South West (Portland) Sustainable Community Fund is open to community groups and not-for-profit organisations that serve from:

Great South West (Codrington/Yambuk)

Aringa
Codrington
Crossley
Killarney
Kirkstall
Koroit
Moyne
Orford
Port Fairy
Rosebrook
St Helens
Toolong
Tower Hill
Yambuk

Great South West (Portland)

Bolwarra
Cape Bridgewater
Cape Nelson South
Cashmore
Curries
Gorea
Gorea West
Heathmere
Heywood
Narrawong
Portland
Tarragal
Trewalla
Tyrendarra

Organisations and projects do not necessarily need to be based in the fund area, but the proposed projects must operate in, and provide benefit to these communities to be eligible.

Great South West Portland Sustainable Community Fund map

Great South West Codrington Yambuk Sustainable Community Fund map

Eligibility

The project will directly benefit at least one of the local communities in the relevant Fund Area (as defined in the guidelines).

Ensure that you read the Community Benefit Fund Program Guidelines – Item 2 Eligibility for full details.

Community Benefit Fund Program Guidelines

Who can apply

A not-for-profit organisation is an organisation that is not operating for the profit or gain (either direct or indirect) of its individual members, including:

Incorporated Associations
Committees of Management
Unincorporated (Voluntary) Associations with an ABN and a formal constitution
Co-operatives (that are defined as not-for-profit in their charter or constitution)
Companies Limited by Guarantee
NFP organisations that do not yet have an ABN are eligible, but additional paperwork may be required if their proposed project is successful

Ensure that you read the Community Benefit Fund Program Guidelines – Item 2.3 Eligibility organisations for full details.