Community Grants Program
introducing the community grants program
Supporting initiatives that are meaningful to our communities
Our vision is to deliver enduring legacies for the community. We’ll do this by supporting our project communities on initiatives that are meaningful to you.
Our Community Grants Program will extend over the lifespan of our proposed projects, delivering real benefits into the community for years to come.
Guiding strategic investment
About the Community Grants Program
The Community Grants Program offers grants up to $10,000 to eligible community organisations or initiatives that align with Queensland Hydro’s Community Benefits Framework.
The Program opened its inaugural grants round in September 2024. From 2025, the program will run twice per year for the lifetime of the proposed Borumba Pumped Hydro Project.
Applicants will need to be located within the Somerset or Gympie local government areas and abide by the application criteria. The initiative must align with one of the four strategic priorities: tourism and economy, health and wellbeing, environment and sustainability, and community connection.
We recommend reading through the Community Benefits Framework and supporting materials before commencing your application.
our STRATEGIC PRIORITIES
Tourism and economy
Tourism is an important driver and presents significant opportunities to grow and leverage enduring positive benefits for the local area and broader region surrounding our project locations.
We will support initiatives that help people and economies thrive. We will do this through local economic development activities that build capacity, capability and resilience to enable our communities and regions to grow and prosper.
Health and
wellbeing
Health and wellness is at the core of every individual and collectively contributes to the vibrancy at the heart of every community.
We will support initiatives that deliver optimum health and wellness benefits to the local community. This may include programs or activities targeting community participation, or infrastructure of recreational facilities to enable them.
Environment and sustainability
We understand and value the importance of respecting and nurturing the environment that surrounds us, in both its natural and developed forms.
We will support initiatives that enhance, protect and celebrate the local environment. Ensuring a sustainable future for the land, skies and water surrounding our communities will benefit us all.
Community connection
Connection creates community. We will support initiatives that contribute to community connectedness.
This may include programs or activities that bring people together, connect cultures, backgrounds, ages and stages of life. It may include physical connections to enhance towns and local areas so there are pathways to connect or places to gather.
We will recognise and preserve the history and culture that underpins the area, celebrate creativity and the arts emerging from our communities, knowing that connection is at the essence.
application details
Eligibility, dates and application requirements
The first round of the Community Grants Program is open for residents in the Somerset and Gympie local government areas surrounding our proposed Borumba Pumped Hydro Project.
For information about eligibility and application requirements, read our Community Grants Program application guide.
Key dates for the first round are:
- Applications open: Monday 2 September 2024
- Applications close: Friday 11 October 2024
- Evaluation period: October-November 2024
- Notification of outcome: Early December 2024
To submit your application, use the link below to access the SmartyGrants platform. If you have issues completing your application, reach out to our Community team via [email protected].
for the community, by the community
The assessment process
Applications for the Community Grants Program will be assessed against three criteria set out below. It is important to understand that not every application that meets the assessment criteria will receive funding.
- Strategic fit: does the initiative align with our objectives and have local relevance?
- Community value: does the initiative have positive community outcomes, and is it inclusive?
- Deliverability: is the initiative feasible and does it have a practice execution plan?
Queensland Hydro remains committed to ensure that benefits are delivered for the community, by the community. A Community Benefits Panel has been established to ensure community can have a say about how and where community benefits funding is allocated. The Panel is responsible for reviewing, prioritising and making recommendations on grant submissions to Queensland Hydro. The Panel will also play an important role in creating awareness about the Community Grants Program and encouraging community groups to apply.
To ensure a robust, equitable and transparent process, an independent assessor will also verify all grant submissions meet the eligibility criteria before being reviewed by the Community Benefits Panel.
More ways to support your community
In addition to our Community Grants Program, Queensland Hydro offers sponsorship to eligible industry and community events.
The Sponsorship Program is run on an ongoing basis and is available to communities around both of our proposed pumped hydro projects.