Community
RATCH-Australia
Our Communities
Our projects become part of the local community for around 30 years. This brings a responsibility to the communities that host our assets that we take extremely seriously.
At every stage of a project’s life cycle we will create opportunities for local people to get in touch with us, to ask questions and give us their opinions.
This will always include a combination of face-to-face and online engagement from the development stage through to full operations.
Not only do our new renewable energy projects deliver significant quantities of much-needed safe, clean, reliable electricity, but they also bring opportunities to the local area.
For example, whenever we build a new project, we seek to make as much use as possible of local skills and expertise. This means local companies offering a wide range of services will have the chance to win business and new jobs will be created for local people.
We have established lasting relationships with schools and groups at our oldest wind farms, while the newer additions to our portfolio come complete with Community Funds to ensure the financial benefits are shared with the neighbouring area.
RATCH-Australia
Community Enhancement Funds
RATCH-Australia has invested more than $2 million over the past five years in the local communities where we operate.
We strive to be a good neighbour at every stage of a project’s lifespan, from early development through to full operations and decommissioning of our assets. The assets continue to have a positive impact on their communities through formal community benefit funds at Mt Emerald and Collector wind farms. Additionally, RATCH-Australia makes direct corporate contributions to assist local communities and sponsor events.
In 2023 alone, 26 organisations received more than $530,000. These programs are designed to contribute to building community resilience, assisting sporting organisations, school programs and local cultural events in close proximity to our operational sites.
For sponsorship enquiries please email enquiries@ratchaustralia.com or find out more about the community benefit funds available below.
Every year we distribute $200,000 + CPI over two rounds, one in January and the second in July, to local community groups that are located within 50 kilometers of Mount Emerald Wind Farm or 40km of Windy Hill Wind farm. More information here.
Once a year more than $270,000 is distributed in partnership with the local Upper Lachlan Shire Council to community groups located within a 10km radius of the Collector Wind Farm. Applications close in April. More information here.
Under the advice of three local residents more than $60,000 is distributed to community groups within 10 kilometers of the Collector Wind Farm. The grant rounds are held in February and August each year. More information here.
