14 February 2022
Following the call for applications last year, OSMI Australia and Cubico Sustainable Investments are pleased to announce the successful recipients of funds from Delburn Wind Farm’s Pre-Development Community Benefit Fund.
On the recommendation of the project’s Community and Stakeholder Consultative Committee, applications targeting the repair of community assets damaged by the June 2021 storms in Gippsland were encouraged.
The fund was originally established by OSMI, but given the devastation caused by the storms, its development partner Cubico, which will become the Delburn Wind Farm’s long-term owner, matched OSMI’s contribution, demonstrating its commitment to supporting local communities.
The successful grant recipients are:
- Mirboo North Football Netball Club;
- Grand Ridge Rail Trail Committee of Management; and
- Mirboo Country Development Inc (MCDI).
The electronic scoreboard at the Walter J Tuck Recreation Reserve in Mirboo North was irreparably damaged during the storms. The grant will contribute to the purchase of a new electronic scoreboard/bulletin board, with funding also coming from the South Gippsland Shire Council Community Grants program, the Mirboo North Football Netball Club and the Mirboo North Junior Football Club. Installation of the scoreboard will be supported by local businesses Strzelecki Engineering, Prolec Solutions and Piper Plumbing. In addition to its use in the local football leagues, the new scoreboard has the ability to provide cricket scoring and will also be used to display community information when the reserve is used as a community relief centre for the district or as a staging ground for emergency responders.
Two significant land slips occurred in cuttings along the Grand Ridge Rail Trail that runs between Boolarra and Mirboo North during the storms. While the slips themselves have been cleared, the areas where the slips occurred remain unstable. The grant will cover the cost of materials to construct retaining walls to stabilise the cuttings, with construction to be completed by the Wednesday Warriors who spend countless hours maintaining this significant community asset.
A group of local mountain bike enthusiasts are working with MCDI to assess the feasibility of developing mountain biking facilities in the area between Mirboo North, Boolarra and Yinnar. Funds will go to commissioning a feasibility study that will assess the suitability of a number of locations in the area for the development of a mountain bike park, including consultation with the local community and surrounding landowners. This project also has the support of Destination Gippsland, which has been working to increase tourism opportunities associated with the provision of mountain biking experiences across Gippsland.
David Smith, our Head of Australia, said: “Cubico is very proud to be contributing alongside OSMI to support the advancement of these important local projects.
“We recognise that this has been a difficult time for many in the community and want to contribute to the recovery efforts while also ensuring that the funding benefits local people and businesses. We look forward to seeing and celebrating the completion of these projects in the near future as we continue to develop Delburn Wind Farm.”
