Community reference group

Established in March 2023, our Community Reference Group (CRG) includes volunteers from the local community who act as a key conduit for community involvement during the project's development and future operation. CRG members are:

  • Acting as a two-way link between the project team and community members, representing local residents and businesses, and interest and industry groups
  • Providing opportunities for individuals and groups affected by the project to participate in developing the benefit sharing scheme
  • Offering local perspectives on the project and allowing representatives to effectively communicate project benefits with the community.

Meet the CRG

Cr Irene Grant: Mayor, Rural City of Wangaratta

Evelina Dudzinski: Environment & Sustainability Coordinator, Rural City of Wangaratta

Ken Gaudion: Member, Warby Ranges Landcare Group

John Naylor: Clean Energy Lead, Wangaratta Landcare & Sustainability Group

To express interest in joining the CRG, please contact us.

Benefit sharing

Pacific Partnerships Energy is committed to delivering social and local economic benefits for the community in which it operates and has developed constructive partnerships with its local communities and stakeholders. The Glenrowan Solar Farm CRG has identified meaningful benefit sharing opportunities and potential long-term initiatives that contribute to the local economy.

Our approach to engaging with the community is based on mutual respect, integrity and a genuine understanding that by working closely with local residents and surrounding communities, opportunities can be developed to share benefits and create better project outcomes.

Community benefit sharing is about creating a positive legacy in the local community. Benefit sharing also needs to be tailored to local circumstances, culture and need. Our approach to delivering benefit sharing over the project lifecycle is underpinned by the following key objectives:

  • Maximise opportunities to deliver long-term social and economic outcomes that meet local needs
  • Develop and deliver a benefit sharing program that is fair and equitable
  • Be mutually beneficial 
  • Develop a diverse suite of benefit sharing options that aim for inclusion
  • Include a focus on First Nations benefit sharing
  • Improve energy literacy in the region.

At this stage, we intend to postpone the 2026 Solar Farm round of funding and combine it with additional funding available from new infrastructure to be built at the solar farm.  

The infrastructure is a new Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), which is due to commence construction in 2027. Read more about the BESS in this January 2026 background news story.

We anticipate starting a combined Solar Farm and BESS funding program in 2027 and we will continue to work with Into our Hands to offer this to grant program to the community later that year.

History of the program

Glenrowan Solar Farm's community-driven benefit sharing program has been underway since 2023 and has funded $150,000 of applications for 28 local initiatives.

Funding has been granted to projects that demonstrate a direct local benefit and that support the natural environment and climate change, health and wellbeing, population growth and youth retention, training, skills and education and improving energy literacy.

The program was developed with the help of the project's Community Reference Group (CRG). The program was also informed by feedback received through the community survey undertaken in June-July 2023.

Since then, it has delivered social, environmental and economic outcomes that have aimed to meet local needs and aims to create a positive legacy for the local community.

Community groups in the Wangaratta region have been granted funding through the Glenrowan Solar Farm Community Benefit Sharing Program since 2023.

Funding applications are assessed by the CRG and administered by local nonprofit community foundation, Into our Hands. Read more about various grant recipients over the years on our News page.