November 27, 2024
The Coopers Gap Wind Farm community fund has awarded $117,295 in grants to not-for-profit associations in the South Burnett and Western Downs council areas after receiving 18 applications.
The details of the latest grants were announced at a meeting of the Coopers Gap Community Consultative Committee held last Thursday (November 21) at Cooranga North Memorial Hall.
Cr Ros Heit represented the South Burnett Regional Council at the meeting, organised by the rebranded owners of the Coopers Gap Wind Farm, Tilt Renewables.
The successful community fund applicants included:
- Bunya Mountains Community Association for the “Art of the Forest” exhibition – $4000
- Kumbia & District Memorial School of Arts – $20,000
- Kumbia and District Historical Society Inc for a digitisation project – $1500
- Kumbia and District Historical Society Inc for its disaster prevention project – $660
The meeting also discussed traffic problems in Niagara Road, including damaged culverts which have restricted some heavy loads.
Negotiations between Tilt Renewables and the SBRC in regards to road repairs are ongoing.
The meeting was also briefed on the donation of the “big blade” to the Bell community, only one of three erected like this for public viewing around Australia.
The 67m blade, from the Coopers Gap Wind Farm, was donated to the Western Downs Regional Council and has been placed on land between the Railway Shed and McPhee Street.
The official unveiling of the blade was held recently.
Footnote: Who are Tilt Renewables? If you are as confused as we were, here is the explanation. Coopers Gap Wind Farm was developed by the Powering Australia Renewable Fund joint venture (originally dubbed PARF, now known as PowAR). AGL, a 20 per cent owner of PowAR, was the contracted asset manager of Coopers Gap. QIC Global Infrastructure Fund and Australia’s sovereign wealth fund, the Future Fund, each own 40 per cent of PowAR. In August 2021, PowAR took over the Australian assets of the formerly publicly listed electricity generation company, Tilt Renewables, and re-branded to this name. The expanded size of Tilt meant AGL was no longer needed in the asset management role at Coopers Gap, so that arrangement was gradually wound up. Tilt Renewables – still 20 per cent owned by AGL – took over asset management of Coopers Gap in June this year.
