Skip to content
Mt Emerald Wind FarmMt Emerald Wind Farm
Mt Emerald Wind Farm
  • The Project
  • Community
  • Construction
  • Compliance
  • News
  • Contact
  • The Project
  • Community
  • Construction
  • Compliance
  • News
  • Contact
Latest News
  • Mount Emerald Community Fund Grant Applications Closing 31 January.

    21st January 2022
    Time is running out to apply for a Mount Emerald Wind Farm Community Grant There are only two weeks left …Read More »
  • MT EMERALD WIND FARM – COMMUNITY FUND UPDATE

    24th November 2021
    The Mareeba BMX Park that was officially opened on Saturday 13 November was rebuilt by the Mareeba Lions Club thanks …Read More »
  • MT EMERALD WIND FARM – COMMUNITY BENEFIT FUND

    12th December 2018
    ADVISORY COMMITTEE – CALL FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST Mt Emerald Wind Farm is calling for Expressions of Interest (EOI) for …Read More »

Community Benefit Fund

Ratch-Australia will donate $200,000 every year of the wind farm’s working life into a fund to support local projects and initiatives.

The fund is designed to share the financial benefits of the wind farm with not-for-profit groups, associations and clubs that make a positive difference to the local community.

This contribution will rise in line with inflation to ensure a meaningful sum is available to support good local causes for as long as the wind farm is generating clean energy.

Organisations with projects within a 50km radius of the wind farm are eligible to apply for a grant from the fund.

Successful applications will be chosen twice a year by a committee comprising local volunteers.

Applications will be accepted all year round, preferably via email to communityfund@ratchaustralia.com

The deadlines for applications to be considered in the following round of funding are 31 January and 31 July.

Download an application form and guidelines for applicants below.

– MEWF Community Benefit Fund Application Form
– MEWF Doc C CBF Guidelines Terms and Conditions

Organisations chosen for support from the fund to date are:

  • Atherton Cricket Association
  • Biboohra State School
  • Helpful Hearts community project
  • Kairi State School P&C
  • Malanda Bowls Club
  • Mareeba Pony Club
  • Mount Molloy State School
  • Tolga State School P&C
  • Walkamin State School
  • Mareeba Lions Club
  • Ravenshoe Meals on Wheels
  • Ravenshoe Tennis Club
  • Mareeba Meals on Wheels
  • Malanda Lions Club
  • Carinya Home for the Aged
  • Atherton Herberton Historic Railway
  • Malanda Tennis Club
  • Mareeba Lioness Club
  • Dimbulah Sports and Pistol Club
  • Atherton Bowls Club
  • Atherton Community Kindergarten
  • Tolga Historical Society

 

Advisory Committee

Once the deadline has been reached, applications are collated, checked and passed to the advisory committee for their review and recommendations.

The committee is chaired by Magistrate Tom Braes. Following an expression of interest process, three volunteers were also chosen to help assess and decide on applications. Each volunteer will serve a fixed term and the positions will be readvertised as they become available.

Volunteer committee members are Norma Moloney from Mareeba, Don Geyer from Atherton and Neil Setford from Tolga. The wind farm site manager Paul McDonald represents Ratch-Australia on the committee. We are very grateful for their hard work in reading all the applications and making the difficult decisions about which projects to support.

Community Consultative Committee

The Community Consultative Committee helps information flow both ways between RATCH-Australia and the local community.

The committee was formed in September 2016 and members represent different local areas and interests.

It provides a forum for RATCH-Australia to give up-to-date project information, seek community feedback and better understand community concerns, as well as answer questions.

The committee is chaired by Professor Steve Turton.

Mareeba Chamber of Commerce Sam Musumeci
Atherton Chamber of Commerce Don Lennox
Canegrowers – Tablelands Bronwyn Dwyer
Tolga John Hardy
Rangeview Dave Reynolds
Springmount Ross Iraci
Oaky Creek Jim Carey
Channel Road John Parmenter
Tablelands Wind Action Group Steve Lavis

The Committee held its first meeting on September 29, 2016 at the Mareeba RSL Club. A site visit was subsequently conducted on October 14.
The purpose of the Committee is to provide a forum for open discussion between RATCH and the community on issues directly relating to the construction and operation of the wind farm, of its environmental performance and community relations.

The company is very much committed to engaging local people to ensure the project observes best practice, responds to issues as they arise and more importantly, to keep the community informed on these matters. The Committee comprises a balanced mix of people and attitudes to the project who have a strong record of civic service and are representative of the wider community and can provide feedback of value to this project.

Photo: L-R: Project Manager, Terry Johannesen, Sam Musumeci, David Reynolds, Bronwyn Dwyer, John Parmenter, Prof. Steve Turton, John Hardy, Jim Carey, Kim Forde and Steve Lavis.

Minutes of the CCC Meetings can be downloaded here:

  • Meeting 1: September 2016
  • Meeting 2: Site visit – no minutes
  • Meeting 3: November 2016
  • CCC Feb 2017 Update
  • Meeting 4: Feb 2017
  • Meeting 5: May 2017
  • Meeting 6: July 2017
  • Meeting 7: Sept 2017
  • Meeting 8: Nov 2017
  • Meeting 9: Apr 2018
  • Meeting 11: Nov 22 2018
  • Meeting 12: Feb 28 2019
  • Meeting 13: June 13 2019

Site Visitors – Sept 2016. Viewing by Helicopter to appreciate the size and location of the Wind Farm

Site Visits and Visitors

Visiting an operational wind farm is an excellent way of finding out more about how the turbines generate clean electricity as well as how the site is managed.

To date we have welcomed many visitors to the site, including representatives from Mareeba and Tablelands Councils, community groups, and government officials. These were a great opportunity to answer questions and help people better understand the impacts, scale and benefits of the project.

Groups interested in visiting the wind farm can contact us using the details below. All visits must be by appointment.

Project Newsletters

MEWF Newsletter September 2018
5th December 2018
MEWF Newsletter August 2018
5th December 2018
MEWF Newsletter May 2018
17th July 2018
MEWF November 2017 Newsletter
30th November 2017
MEWF October 2017 Newsletter
16th October 2017

Read More >>

Community

Local Procurement

Local procurement has commenced, with: • Koppens and Mareeba Crane Hire constructing the concrete culvert to protect the irrigation channel during December 2016. • A new vehicle purchased from Mareeba Toyota, January 2017 • Contracting of the MBarBarrum Aboriginal Corporation to undertake Cultural Heritage surveys and assist with environmental surveys during the entire construction period.…

3rd March 2017

Read More >>

Project and Compliance Updates

Feb 2017: Letters of Consent received from Government to begin

Early works commenced February 14th on the transport depot laydown area at the base of the site. All pre-start UXO, Cultural Heritage and Environmental surveys have been conducted to verify the site is ‘ready to go’. Flagging of works area has occurred to limit the extent of clearing, in preparation for pad establishment. Letters of…

3rd March 2017

Read More >>


www.ratchaustralia.com


Contact details for RATCH-Australia offices:

Brisbane Office: 07 3214 3400

Address: PO Box 12833, George Street Qld 4003



Sydney Office: 02 8913 9400

Address: PO Box 1058, North Sydney NSW 2059




24 hour community call line: 1800 280 013

Project email address: enquiries@ratchaustralia.com

Project mailing address: PO Box 1058, North Sydney NSW 2060

Mt Emerald Wind Farm. 2016 (c)