Following the successful first 12 months of ACCIONA’s Neighbourhood Benefit Program (which has seen more than $53,000 distributed within the local community since June last year) the company is inviting applications for round two of the initiative.
The Neighbourhood Benefit Program is a proximity payment, open to eligible households that reside closest to the Mortlake South Wind Farm. The payments are made via pre-loaded EFTPOS cards that can be used to purchase goods and services at local businesses in Mortlake, Noorat and Terang.
Related article: An in-depth look at the MacIntyre Wind Precinct
ACCIONA Energy’s managing director Brett Wickham said, the program helps keep spending within the local community as the cards can only be redeemed at participating local businesses.
“We have had a really positive response from local organisations, with 41 participating businesses across Mortlake, Noorat and Terang,” Mr Whickham said.
“In the first round (2019-2020) the local community embraced the program. We issued 51 cards to households within the 4km radius of the wind farm, with people using the cards at a variety of retailers, which has really helped to reinvest local spend back in the community.
Related article: Marinus Link among projects to be fast-tracked
“Households have been able to use the cards to do their grocery shopping at the Terang IGA, buy farming supplies at Scanlon’s Dairy Business and purchase new home appliances at Betta Home Living in Mortlake.
“The Neighbourhood Benefit Program was developed as a bespoke community initiative for the Mortlake South Wind Farm. It is the first time ACCIONA has run a program like this, so we are really pleased to see such positive results that allow the community to support their local businesses”
“The program will be ongoing for the next 10 years, in which time we expect to invest over half a million dollars into local businesses through the Neighbourhood Benefit Cards.”