Watta Wella Wind Farm: benefits for the community by the community

As regional Australia becomes central to the renewable energy transition, communities want to know one thing: how will this project support the people who live here?

At the Watta Wella Wind Farm in the Northern Grampians region, RES has designed a community benefits program that responds directly to local feedback and aims to deliver long term value across neighbours, households and community organisations.

The program is structured, transparent, and shaped by more than four years of local engagement — from community information sessions to surveys and one on one discussions with residents. Rather than taking a one size fits all approach, RES has built a model that reflects the priorities, aspirations and lived realities of the Watta Wella community.

A clear, three part benefit model shaped by local input

The Watta Wella community benefits program is built on a three part Shared Benefit Scheme, providing support during construction and continuing throughout the life of the project.

1. Neighbour Shared Benefit Fund
   A direct financial payment for eligible neighbouring properties — recognising the important role of residents who live closest to the project. This forms the largest portion of the benefit model, reflecting strong local interest in ensuring neighbours share directly in project value.
2. Community Benefit Fund
   An annual fund dedicated to local groups, clubs, initiatives and community led projects.
   This fund responds to feedback gathered through information sessions and surveys, where residents emphasised the importance of supporting grassroots organisations and community wellbeing.
3. Electricity Bill Reduction Initiative
   A smaller but meaningful allocation that helps nearby residents manage household energy costs — an idea raised repeatedly during local engagement. Together, these three components form a benefit structure designed with (not just for) the community.

A program shaped by years of listening

Community feedback played a central role in shaping Watta Wella’s benefit design. Across multiple engagement sessions, residents shared views on what mattered most:

• clear and equitable sharing of economic benefits
• support for families and local clubs
• protecting affordability, including electricity costs
• opportunities for local employment
• ensuring neighbours closest to the site are recognised

These themes were gathered through conversations at dozens of RES information sessions, during targeted consultation, and via a formal Social Impact Assessment process.

The result is a model that reflects local priorities, ensuring benefits are both practical and meaningful.

Early conversations revealing strong interest in benefit sharing

In community sessions held across Stawell and surrounding areas, residents repeatedly highlighted benefit sharing as a top priority. Engagement notes show that:

• Many neighbours expressed strong interest in the Shared Benefit Scheme
• Some residents described the scheme as “wonderful” and welcomed the clarity around eligibility
• Community members were keen to ensure benefits reached both neighbours and the broader region

This input directly informed the design, helping RES refine the structure and communicate it clearly.

Designed for fairness, transparency and long term value

What sets the Watta Wella benefits program apart is its balance: direct support for neighbours, flexible resources for community groups, and household level relief through bill reductions.

It is a program built deliberately, shaped collaboratively and designed for longevity.

As the energy transition accelerates, the Watta Wella Wind Farm shows how renewable projects can create local value in ways that feel fair, future focused and connected to community priorities.

By listening early and responding meaningfully, RES is ensuring the benefits of clean energy flow directly to the people who help make these projects possible.