The Delburn Wind Farm has awarded $15,000 in Pre-Development Grants to assist local community led projects around the wind farm site.

Mr Peter Marriott, Executive Director Development at OSMI Australia said:

“We are pleased to assist ten community groups to deliver meaningful projects that make a real difference to their communities. Locals know what they want and need, and we want to help make
this a reality.

“In this latest round of community grants, we received $80,000 in applications. We have allocated the grants to groups that will deliver community focused projects boosting local connections, health and wellbeing, and the environment,” Mr Marriott said.

The community grants have been awarded to a diverse range of groups including:

• The Boolarra Football Netball Club to purchase a replacement defibrillator for their social rooms after the previous one was stolen. The defibrillator will be available for use by members of the Boolarra Football Netball and Cricket Clubs, their supporters and the local community.
• The Yinnar and District Historical Society and Museum to upgrade lighting in the two-buildings that house the historic collections and Museum. The collection is Yinnar’s link with its past and a precious asset to connect and educate future generations and tourists who visit the area.
• Mirboo North Pony Club to purchase an arena rake to assist volunteers with the maintenance of the surface of their two arenas. Using the rake will ensure the arena surface remains level and safe for riding, as well as reducing the number of weeds growing on the surfaces. Pony club members come from a variety of localities surrounding Mirboo North.
• Friends of the Lyrebird Forrest Walk will purchase a whipper snipper and motor driven pole-saw to provide ongoing maintenance of the Lyrebird Walk and Grand Ridge Rail Trail, between Mirboo North and Boolarra. The tools will help the team in managing the amenity of both areas for the enjoyment and safety of locals and tourists.
• Gippsland Writers Network will host two workshops for emerging writers. Experienced tutors will deliver education sessions by assisting participants to write freely without self-imposed barriers that often plague writers. The workshops will boost writing skills and well-being for participants.
• Jeeralang Boolarra Cricket Club will purchase first aid equipment for use by teams and club members. The equipment will include a Fastaid R4 Remote Area Medic First Aid Kit and two a Workplace National Mobile First Aid Packs. This will provide a first aid hub for the players and members of the Boolarra community.
• Mirboo North Market Committee will fund musicians to perform at the Mirboo North Market, enhancing the atmosphere so people can stay and enjoy the music for a while. It will create new opportunities for talented local musicians to perform, as they do not always receive the exposure and volume of work that metropolitan performers get.
• Yinnar Bowls and Recreational Club will receive funding for two sets of tenpin bowls. More children and adults will be able to participate in tenpin bowling without needing to leave town. The Tenpin bowls will also be available for use by the local school students at Yinnar and Yinnar South.
• Mirboo North United Football Club will receive funding to purchase a set of mobile senior sized
  goals. The mobile goals posts will boost health and wellbeing, and support members to develop excellent training skills so they can be their best as a team and as individuals.
• Cricket Latrobe Valley will purchase new uniforms for 18 female players to represent Cricket Latrobe Valley in the 2025-26 season. The new uniforms will be fit for purpose and the women will no longer have to wear men’s uniforms. In addition to providing a new level of comfort the uniforms will elevate women’s cricket in the Latrobe Valley region.

Mr Marriott said the community benefits grants would increase when construction commences,
currently planned for mid-2025.

“Once construction is underway, the Delburn Wind Farm Community Development Fund will
increase to around $150,000 per year ($750 per megawatt installed). This will provide more
opportunities for the community to bring their more ambitious ideas to life.

“Since the project was announced in 2019, the Delburn Wind Farm has awarded over $60,000 in pre-development funding grants to assist local groups to deliver vital community projects.

“We will continue to support near neighbours and local residents surrounding the Delburn Wind
Farm to provide direct value to local communities,” Mr Marriott said.