Genuine local community engagement

Community Co-investment

Sapphire Wind Farm was the first large scale renewable energy project in Australia to roll out a community co-investment scheme. More than $7.4 million was pledged by community members interested in investing throughout 2017 and 2018.

Following its success, we are rolling out a new co-investment program for community members at our more advanced development projects in the Central West Orana Renewable Energy Zone (REZ) near Dubbo and Wellington.

We are planning to extend the program to the other regions where we are developing projects over time.
Community co-investment offers residents in the region the opportunity to participate in and benefit from investing in Australia’s transition to renewable energy.

Telecommunications

We plan to roll out telecommunications improvements at our projects to boost network and internet coverage for rural and regional communities.

We have concluded a trial at our Spicers Creek Wind Farm project to boost network coverage through a fixed wireless service. We are now beginning to build out the program to provide residents within approximately 20km of the proposed wind farm stronger network coverage subsidised by the wind farm development.

By strengthening internet coverage in rural and regional areas, we can increase access and pathways for rural enterprises into areas such as agricultural technology solutions and health care services.

University of Wollongong’s GoLead Internship Program

Squadron Energy has partnered with the University of Wollongong (UOW) to sponsor the Global Leaders Development Program, supporting the next generation of global law and business leaders in the region.

Engaging students in transformation projects is one way we can work towards a renewable energy future – locally and globally. Law and Commerce student, Jelena Zeljkovic has been working with the Wollongong team since September 2022.

UOW Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Innovation, Enterprise and External Relations) Professor Alex Frino says the University is looking forward to students having the opportunity to develop their skills and knowledge with the team at Squadron Energy.

“Students emerge from the program with unparalleled professional and life experience, preparing them to be successful graduates entering the workforce,” Professor Frino said.

UCI Wollongong 2022 Community Day

Squadron Energy was proud to be a community partner of the UCI Wollongong 2022 Community Day in September.

Bike riding is for everyone, and whether it was your first time riding with others or you're a regular on the local pathways, this was a special moment to share with family, friends and visitors to Wollongong.

Together, our team is committed to accelerating the decarbonisation of Australia's economy and providing transitional energy solutions. There's no doubt a behavioural shift toward bike riding among our local communities can play a role in that ambition.

Ekka Junior Judging and Cattle Showing

In August 2022, CWP Renewables and Sapphire Wind Farm sponsored the students at Macintyre High School Inverell, Inverell High School, Holy Trinity School Inverell and Glen Innes High School to visit and compete in the annual Ekka (The Royal Queensland Show).

Some highlights include Inverell High School being awarded first place in the Inter-School herdsman competition, as well as their steer 'Mayo' placing second place in the Carcase competition. The trip also included a mid-week visit to the Australian Outback Spectacular show in the Gold Coast.

It was a great opportunity for the students to get involved and compete in the competitions, make it a fun and memorable learning experience for all who attended.

Rural Fire Service Fire Shed

Kings Plains Rural Fire Service (RFS) is one of the many community-operated volunteer rural fire stations in the New England region of NSW. The station, along with many of the volunteers, is a direct neighbour to the Sapphire Wind Farm.

The location of the fire shed, along with the extraordinary community spirit within the local area, has attributed to the great relationship that exists between the wind farm, the local community and the Kings Plains RFS.

As well as the day-to-day RFS activities that the fire shed accommodates, it is also used as a community facility to host events.

Sapphire Wind Farm has been fortunate to be able to work with the RFS on multiple occasions on tasks such as developing emergency response plans, training drills, controlled hazard reduction burns and, of course, the annual Christmas party.

The Kings Plains RFS has also previously received grant funding for a standalone solar system and security, installation of mobile phone boosters in trucks as well as a concreted area at the front of the fire shed.

Ilford State School visit Crudine

Ilford State School’s visit had been looked forward to by the students and teachers all of Term four. As a close neighbour to the Crudine Ridge Wind Farm, many of the students and teachers had seen the construction of the wind farm over the course of eight months.

Crudine Ridge Wind Farm’s Community Engagement Officer, Marie Hensley, and Operation’s Facility Manager, Brad Jachmann, presented to the junior and senior primary school classes. The children were keen to learn all about the wind farm and even the little ones were very engaged and asked lots of questions.

After the presentation, both groups got to go out into the playground and pace out the length of the wind turbine blade used at Crudine Ridge wind farm and were able to see a small working model of a wind turbine in action. A wonderfully informative and engaging day was had by students and teachers.

The best question of the day from one of the younger students was: “How much does it cost to buy a wind turbine as I want to put one in our back yard?”

ACT Community solar investment scheme

Squadron Energy provided the financing for Australia’s largest community-owned renewable energy project: the SolarShare Majura Valley Solar Farm.

SolarShare raised equity from 400 Canberran investors and Squadron Energy provided a loan for the balance.

The project was identified as it was aligned with the community development objectives of Sapphire Wind Farm as part of the ACT Government power purchase agreement scheme.

Our support for the project enabled Solar Share to proceed with a tracking solar panel mounting system. Construction started in late 2020 and was completed in early 2021.