OSMI is committed to a holistic benefit-sharing model based around sharing the profits of the wind farm fairly and creating a positive long-term legacy in the region. OSMI values the community’s contribution to the development of the Delburn Wind Farm, and is engaging with the community to ensure that the Delburn Wind Farm project is well supported and designed appropriately, and to that benefit sharing is tailored for the local context.

Delburn Wind Farm Community Benefits Scheme

OSMI is committed to a holistic benefit-sharing model based around sharing the profits of the wind farm fairly and creating a positive long-term legacy in the region. OSMI values the community’s contribution to the development of the Delburn Wind Farm, and is engaging with the community to ensure that the Delburn Wind Farm project is well supported and designed appropriately, and to that benefit sharing is tailored for the local context.

OSMI are designing a Community Benefits Scheme which includes 3 main aspects:

· Neighbour Profit Sharing.
· A Community Development Fund
· Community Co-investment opportunities.

Neighbour Profit Sharing

OSMI is proposing an annual neighbour payment for the life of the project. An amount of $500,000 (indexed annually) will be set aside for this purpose. How this is distributed and to whom is still to be agreed, with input from the community.

The initial proposition is a base rate of $2000 with an additional payment of $1000 for each turbine that is 1-1.5 kms and $500 for each turbine 1.5 -2km from each home.  This would mean residents living within 2km of a turbine would receive between $2,500 and $6,500 each year depending on the number of turbines within 2 km of their home.

Payments could be extended to include neighbours further away, but a different formula would be required. 

There are many ways these funds could be distributed but the general principal is there will be a fixed pool of funds available for neighbours to be distributed in a way that the community feels is fair.

 

Community Development Fund

OSMI is establishing a Community Development Fund to support community projects focused on sustainability and community health and well-being. This fund will be overseen by an steering committee with membership drawn from the community and will be established once the project receives all necessary statutory approvals. Funds will begin to be distributed as the project proceeds to construction. OSMI will invest $750 per MW installed ($150,000 per year based on a 200 MW project) into the community surrounding the Delburn Wind Farm. The way these funds are distributed will be determined in collaboration with the community.

Projects should contribute to one or more of the following:

· building sustainable communities;
· enhancing community safety, health and wellbeing;
· supporting community education; and/or
· enhancing the natural environment.

 

Pre-Development Fund Open 

Commencing in 2020–21, OSMI will allocate $10,000 per annum to the Community Development Fund until the project has commenced construction.  Projects that benefit the local community health and the environment will be considered eligible for funding.

Criteria for the pre-development fund follows the same principles as the development fund, expect it is recognised that the funding pool is smaller and long-running programs will probably not be viable for this fund. 

Applications for the pre-development fund are now open and will close on 30th Sept. It can be found on our website at https://osmi.com.au/community/community-benefits-scheme/

Community Co-Investment

Being embedded in the local community, the Delburn Wind Farm wishes to provide the community with the opportunity to invest in and share the returns generated by the wind farm. 

Through the Delburn Wind Farm survey that was conducted in 2019, over $1m of community investment was pledged, and over 60% of the responders considered this an important initiative. 

More details can be viewed on the OSMI website at https://osmi.com.au/

1800 OSMIAU  (1800 676428)
OSMI Australia
7 Christian St
Boolarra VIC 3870