Community Benefit Fund
RATCH-Australia will donate $200,000 every year of the wind farm’s working life into a fund to support local projects and initiatives. Over the past 4 years we have given away over $700,000 to nearly 100 local organisations in the Atherton Tablelands
The fund is designed to share the financial benefits of the wind farm with not-for-profit groups, associations and clubs that make a positive difference to the local community.
This contribution will rise in line with inflation to ensure a meaningful sum is available to support good local causes for as long as the wind farm is generating clean energy.
Organisations with projects within a 50km radius of the wind farm are eligible to apply for a grant from the fund.
Successful applications will be chosen twice a year by a committee comprising local volunteers.
Applications will be accepted all year round, preferably via email to [email protected]
The deadlines for applications to be considered in the following round of funding are 31 January and 31 July.
Download an application form and guidelines for applicants below.
- MEWF Community Fund Application Form
- MEWF Community Benefit Fund Guidelines
For guidance on your application please email [email protected]
Advisory Committee
Once the deadline has been reached, applications are collated, checked and passed to the advisory committee for their review and recommendations.
The committee is chaired by Magistrate Tom Braes. We are currrenlty advertising for new committee members as our existing members reach the end of their term.
A big thanks to the volunteer committee members Norma Moloney from Mareeba, Don Geyer from Atherton and Neil Setford from Tolga for serving on the committee over the last three years. We are very grateful for their hard work in reading all the applications and making the difficult decisions about which projects to support.
If you would like to apply to join the Mount Emerald Wind Farm Advisory Committee please email you cover letter and resume to [email protected].
The wind farm site manager Paul McDonald represents Ratch-Australia on the committee.