Community
COMMUNITY COMMITMENTS
Wambo Wind Farm values strong relationships with our surrounding communities and stakeholders. We are committed to being valued members of the community for many years to come, and being part of the positive legacy that investment in energy infrastructure will create for the region.
When operating, Wambo Wind Farm will provide approximately $5 million in direct financial contributions to the Western Downs region per year - through payments to host landholders, council rates, voluntary neighbour payments and community benefit investment.
We’d love to hear from you at any time - you can mail or call our stakeholder team. Subscribe to receive our regular email updates on the project and follow us on Facebook for day to day news.
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Community Benefit Fund
Our flagship Community Benefit Fund provides up to $200,000 each year to support local community groups and organisations make a meaningful, long-term impact in our local communities.
Projects supported through the Fund align with one or more of these objectives:
Sustainable Communities – projects that improve environmental outcomes
Connected Communities – initiatives that strengthen social ties and inclusion
Healthy Communities – programs that enhance physical and mental wellbeing
Resilient Communities – efforts that build long-term economic and social strength
Funding is awarded via two grants rounds each year.
Applications are considered by our Community Advisory Panel, a group comprised of active community members along with representatives of project owners Stanwell and Cubico, and Western Downs Regional Council. The Community Advisory Panel plays an important role ensuring that projects supported by the Fund genuinely align with the needs and aspirations of the communities hosting Wambo Wind Farm.
Wambo Wind Farm accepts applications for our funding programs through an online platform: Social Investment Funding Application
The Community Benefit Fund is now closed for 2026.
Community Sponsorship Program
Wambo Wind Farm is also an active sponsor of local events and initiatives that make the region a great place to live, work and play.
In 2025 we’ve been delighted to support over 15 events ranging from Jandowae Show and Rodeo, Cooranga Campdraft, Jandowae Race Day, Bell State School’s NAIDOC Art Exhibition and Bell Heritage and Progress Association’s Men’s Breakfasts, to Jandowae Garden Club’s bus tour and Jandowae Early Learning Centre’s Breakfast Club and circus show. Read more about the projects we have supported below.
If you have a project idea or would like to discuss a potential partnership, our Stakeholder Engagement team would love to hear from you!
Contact the Stakeholder Engagement TeamPowering connected communities through sport
Jandowae Bowls Club secured funding in 2024 to attach shade awnings and to build an accessibility ramp and railings at the clubhouse entrance to improve the functionality and comfort of the club for members and patrons, as well as the large number of hirers of the facility.
Jandowae Golf Club has gone ‘green’, thanks to a grant to install rooftop solar panels, with the energy generated used to power the water pumps that make the course a delight for its players.
Other sporting clubs supported through the Fund include Bell & District Memorial Bowls Club, Jandowae Squash Club, Jandowae & District Tennis Association and the Jandowae Fishhooks.
Powering community resilence and wellbeing
Taralga Retirement Village is a not-for-profit aged care provider offering community housing for the over 55’s along with high care nursing, including dementia and palliative care. With support from Wambo Wind Farm and Powerlink, Taralga was able to purchase a purpose-built accessible van to keep residents and carers safe and comfortable when travelling.
Bell Cares will also soon have its own community bus, ensuring elderly members of the community can access essential services if and when required, while also providing a safe and comfortable way for them to socialise and enjoy the best of what the region has to offer.
Powering community places and spaces
The Community Benefit Fund helped the Jandowae District Progress and Heritage Association to weatherproof and increase display capacity of the Jandowae Heritage Precinct’s former School building and Shearer’s Quarters.
It has also supported Bell Theatre Group, in partnership with the Bell Memorial Public Hall, to purchase energy efficient, safe, and fit for purpose food preparation equipment to enhance the hall and improve the functionality and viability of the Theatre Group’s activities.
And Bell Bunya Community Centre has a new display cabinet that now showcases local stories and artefacts—adding colour, character and visitor appeal to this vibrant community hub. It will soon be refurbished with updated decor and fit-out, with new funding in 2025.
Powering the next generation
The Jandowae State School, led by Principal JB Mohr, partnered with the Wambo Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund to launch the "I'm a Hear-o" initiative. This program ensures that every child at the school receives a hearing test and assessment, providing each student with an individual report to help give them every chance of success in their educational outcomes. With the goal of facilitating early detection and intervention, the "I'm a Hear-o" initiative aims to ensure every child in Jandowae can hear, learn, and thrive.
The Fund has also supported the Jandowae Early Learning Centre with a new safety fence, and funded new commercial kitchen equipment for the Chinchilla State School P&C’s tuckshop.
Neighbour Benefit Scheme
Wambo Wind Farm’s Neighbour Benefit Scheme reflects our commitment to ensuring that those who live near our project are acknowledged, valued, and directly benefit from hosting vital infrastructure in their neighbouring backyards.
The voluntary scheme provides for annual payments ranging from $7,500 to $37,500 to eligible neighbours during the operational phase of the wind farm, delivering approximately $9 million in voluntary payments to neighbours over the life of the wind farm.
The amount paid to each eligible neighbour depends on the number of operating turbines within 3km of the neighbouring residence, as follows:
$7,500 per turbine for the first two turbines,
$3,000 for each turbine thereafter up to 6 turbines, and
$1,500 for each turbine after that (7 or more).
Where the eligible neighbour owns land only within 1.5km of an operating turbine (no residence), the applicable amount is a flat fixed sum of $7,500 per year.
Neighbours who are eligible to participate in this scheme will be contacted by Wambo Wind Farm directly and invited to apply.
Community drop-in sessions
Any residents, landholders, or local businesses are welcome to our drop-ins. Whether you have questions about the project, ideas to share, or simply want to meet the team behind Wambo Wind Farm, we’d love to see you at these regular sessions for coffee and a chat - no RSVP required, and coffee is on us!
From time to time we schedule more structured Community Information Sessions to discuss project updates or initiatives. Keep an eye on this page, follow Wambo on Facebook or subscribe to our newsletter for updates on these events.
Upcoming drop in sessions:
To be advised.