Community based organisations and projects are expected to benefit from community funds established by developers of Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS).
ib vogt senior development manager Terry Daly said he had already had discussions with Trafalgar-based organisations who could potentially receive funding through a community benefit fund associated with the Trafalgar East development.
Mr Daly said injecting funds into the Trafalgar or Trafalgar East public halls, or supporting local organisations like Bettermentall were some of the projects the fund could benefit.
"We are proposing to set up a community benefits committee who would receive submissions and the committee would evaluate the criteria and allocate funds.
"Ultimately it would be a community-led committee but we need to identify key stakeholders," he said.
ib vogt said it was currently working with local community groups to identify new initiatives that would deliver long-term benefits.
Zebre, developers of the North yarragon BESS project indicated the company would allocate between $126,000 and $252,000 per year to the community for the life of the project.
"It is not for us to decide how those funds are spent. Instead, the funds are for priorities that locals decide. We will work with whatever decision-making process locals wish to put in place," Zebre states on its information brochure.
The latest Samsung C&T newsletter for the Shady Creek development also stated the company was seeking community feedback to "shape benefit sharing opportunities that reflect local priorities."
Some of the ideas being considered included energy rebates, funding towards local community groups and upgrades to local community spaces.