Watta Wella Renewable Energy Project

Community Benefits

RES is committed to giving back to the communities that host our renewable energy projects. A community benefit sharing program will be established to share a portion of revenue from the Watta Wella Renewable Energy Project with the surrounding communities. The program, which would commence during Project construction, will provide positive and lasting benefits to the local community that extend beyond the life of the project. 

Where possible, RES also sponsors local community groups, clubs and projects. We are currently on the lookout for sponsorship opportunities in the local area. If you are seeking sponsorship and your organisation is located in the surrounding area please contact us. 

Community Consultative Committee

As the project moves to submit its Planning Application, RES invites Expressions of Interest from community members to participate in a Community Consultative Committee (CCC) for the project. Once the project has been approved, the CCC will represent community and work with the Project Team to facilitate open communication and structured discussion about the next phase of development, construction and early operations of the project, including possible wider benefit sharing opportunities. A draft Terms of Reference for the CCC is available here. 

To provide feedback on benefit sharing programs and express interest in participating in the CCC please see our survey here. 

Employment

During the construction period, it is expected that the project will generate up approximately 200 direct jobs, with up to 20 full time staff also being required throughout the 20+year operation and maintenance phase of the project. 

Employment benefits from the project can extend through local supply chains to fuel/water supply, vehicle servicing, uniform suppliers, hotels/motels, B&B's, cafes, pubs, catering and cleaning companies, tradespersons, tool and equipment suppliers and many other local businesses.

Environmental Benefits

The Watta Wella Renewable Energy Project will contribute to the Victorian Renewable Energy Target of 65% renewables by 2030 and the long term target of net zero emissions by 2050.

Additional benefits include:

• Minimal impact on the productivity of traditional farming activities;
• Pre-construction land uses can be fully re-established post decommissioning;
• Smaller environmental footprint than comparative forms of generation;
• Additional fire breaks and improves access roads for firefighting;
• The wind farm will generate clean renewable energy to power up to 200,000 Victorian homes per year*; and
• Additional energy supplies to help meet the growing energy demand in Victoria.

*average total annual consumption in Victoria is 4681 kWh (Source: AER)