About the fund Applications for the Crowlands and Challicum Hills Sustainable Communities Fund have now closed. The Crowlands and Challicum Hills Sustainable Communities Fund now operates on a biannual model, which means eligible community groups and not-for-profit organisations are encouraged to apply for project funding from a pool of $236,000 every second year. With the doubling of grant funds, we have also removed the $10,000 cap to provide opportunities for community organisations to partner and work together on projects that deliver greater community impact. Information sessions To help communities prepare for this upcoming fund, Pacific Blue will hold two information sessions. We encourage participants to attend both workshops. Online information session 1 This first information session was held online via Zoom on Tuesday 26 September. Click below to watch the session recording here. Click here to watch Face-to-face information session 2 The second face-to-face information session was held on Thursday 12 October. Click here to download the Information Session 1 Presentation Crowlands Challicum Hills online workshop 26.09.23 (1.48 MB) These workshops are an opportunity for fund applicants to find out more about the grant application process, key objectives of the Crowlands and Challicum Hills Sustainable Fund and understand what a good application looks like. A proximity weighting system will be applied to funding requests so that communities and projects closest to the Challicum Hills wind farm and the Crowlands wind farm are prioritised. This recognises the communities that are closest to a project, as they experience the greatest impacts. (0-5km 15% weighting, 5km – 10km 10% weighting, 10km – 15km 5% weighting). 2023 Community Benefit Fund Program Guidelines Community Benefit Fund Program Guidelines (78.93 KB) Register your interest Register your interest to receive news and updates on Pacific Blue's Sustainable Communities Funds. Register now Background information on the combined Crowlands and Challicum Hills Sustainable Communities Fund In 2022, Pacific Blue combined the Crowlands and Challicum Hills Sustainable Communities Fund. The Crowlands and Challicum Hills Sustainable Communities Fund is part of Pacific Blue’s Community Benefit Sharing Program, which has provided more than $5 million to over 1,000 projects across Australia since 2005. About Crowlands Pacific Blue’s Crowlands Fund shares the benefits of Crowlands Wind Farm with the surrounding communities, providing long-lasting social, economic and environmental benefits. Since the commissioning of Crowlands Wind Farm in 2019, the Fund has provided more than $226,000 to 33 local sustainable projects. 2021 fund Congratulations to the grantees of the 2021 Crowlands fund: Crowlands Hall and Reserves Committee – Crowlands Playground Shade Sail, Part 2 Crowlands Warrak Landcare Group – Platypus Monitoring, Outdoor Trail Cameras Crowlands Tennis Club – Safe seating Crowlands Hall and Reserves Committee – Bench Tops for kitchen Amphitheatre Mechanics Institute – Upgrade Air Conditioning Beaufort Progress Association – Pyrenees Markets Project: Weekend Markets in The Pyrenees Barkly Community Hall Committee – Barkly Basketball/Netball Half-Court Elmhurst Mechanics Institute – Restoration of Original Wooden Floor Landsborough & District Bowls Club – Landsborough Lawn Bowls Lights Up Lexton Public Hall Committee – New Oven Perennial Pasture Systems – PPS sound equipment. About Challicum Hills Pacific Blue’s Challicum Hills fund (previously known as Ararat fund) shares the benefits of Challicum Hills Wind Farm with the surrounding communities, providing long-lasting social, economic and environmental benefits. Since the commissioning of Challicum Hills Wind Farm in 2005, the fund has provided more than $725,000 to 243 local sustainable projects. 2021 fund Congratulations to the grantees of the 2021 Ararat Fund: Ararat Eagles Football Netball Club – Increase youth sports, AFL safety equipment/kit Ararat Bowling Club – Accessible Bowls Lake Bolac Information & Business Centre – Community Centre Computer upgrade Buangor Community Sports Centre – Pavilion Outdoor Blinds Green Hill Lake Development Board – Promotional Notice Board Ararat Basketball Association – ABA Protective padding Ararat & District U3A – Science for Seniors Documents 2021 Fund Allocation Panel Expression of Interest.pdf (103.18 KB) Fund Allocation Panel Terms of Reference.pdf (140.53 KB) Register your interest Areas of interest This will help us give you the information you are looking for. Which of our Community funds are you enquiring about? --select one--Clements Gap Sustainable Community FundCrowlands and Challicum Hills Sustainable Community FundGreat South West (Codrington / Yambuk) Sustainable Community FundGreat South West (Portland) Sustainable Community FundHaughton Sustainable Community FundTaralga Community Enhancement FundYaloak South Community FundGeneral enquiry Your message Name and details Enter your details so we know how to get in touch. Full name Email address Contact preferences Let us know the best way to get in touch with you. Preferred method of contact Email Phone Phone number Best time to contact you? Morning Afternoon Anytime (9am-5pm) This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions. Leave this field blank Get in touch For more information on the Crowlands and Challicum Hills fund, please email our Community Engagement team. [email protected]