Community Projects Backed Across the Central West as The Pines Wind Farm Reaches $100,000 Milestone
From sport to safety and social connection, grassroots projects across the Oberon and Bathurst LGAs receive funding boost
6 May 2026
The Pines Wind Farm has now delivered $100,000 to grassroots projects across the Oberon and Bathurst LocalGovernment Areas (LGAs), backing local ideas that are making a real difference.
From bringing local sport back to life, to helping young children learn road safety and restoring historic community spaces, the Early Community SponsorshipProgram is supporting practical, community-led ideas that are improving everyday life.
The funding reflects two years of sustained investment in local initiatives, building momentum behind the people and organisations who keep communities connected, active and supported.
TagEnergy Managing Partner – Australia Andrew Riggs said the milestone highlights the strength of community connection in the Central West.
"What stands out is not just the projects themselves, but the people behind them," Mr Riggs said.
"These are volunteers, educators and community leaders who see a need and step up. This program is about giving them the support to turn those ideas into something real."
Stromlo Energy Director Matthew Parton said delivering funding early in the project lifecycle is critical.
"It's important that communities see tangible benefits from the outset, not just once a project is built," Mr Parton said.
"This program is about supporting local priorities early, building long-term relationships with communities across the Central West, and delivering benefits that endure."
Oberon Netball Club is returning for the first time since COVID, with the grant enabling the club to relaunch, reduce the costs for families and support new teams, helping more women and girls get back into sport.
Arts OutWest will deliver Joined At The Art, an intergenerational arts program bringing together school students and aged care residents through a series of structured creative workshops, designed to boost wellbeing, reduce isolation and strengthen community connection during the winter months.
Galloping Gumnut Mobile Children's Service is creating a dedicated bike track for children aged 0 to 5 at its centre in Oberon, providing a safe, structured space to learn road awareness and riding skills through play, benefiting families across Oberon and O'Connell.
In Black Springs, St Aidan's Village Church, a historic and non-denominational space that has long served as a pillar of the local community, will be repainted and restored, ensuring it can continue to welcome and support residents for years to come.
Funding has also supported the Black Springs Community Association Inc to progress a community-led mobile connectivity solution, which is currently in development to improve access to mobile service in key locations across the village.
For recipients, the funding is already translating into real outcomes.
Oberon Netball Club President & Co-orientator Tara Love said the funding has helped remove barriers for local families.
"It's made it more affordable for girls to get back into sport and be part of a team again, which is so important in a small community," Ms Love said.
Arts OutWest Project Facilitator Catherine McNamara said the program is designed to create meaningful connections across generations.
"Our project brings together young people and people living in aged care in structure art workshops during the cold months of Oberon's winter, clinically shown to be a time when the risk of depression is high," Ms McNamara said.
"We're aiming for improved health outcomes including physical exercise, cognitive function, and social connection for both groups."
Galloping Gumnut Mobile Children's Service Director, Nominated Supervisor and Teacher Carol Drummond said the project will create new opportunities for children to learn through play.
"It gives the children a safe, dedicated space to ride while also learning important road safety skills. It's something we simply wouldn't have been able to deliver without this support," Ms Drummond said.
St Aidan's Village Church Association representative Alan Pearce said the restoration will ensure the space remains part of community life."This is a place that brings people together, and we're delighted to be able to preserve it for future generations," Mr Pearce said.
Funding in this round has been awarded to:
- Arts OutWest
- Black Springs Community Association Inc
- Galloping Gumnut Mobile Children's Service
- Oberon Netball Club
- Oberon Showground Land Manager
- St Aidan's Village Church Association Inc
The Early Community Sponsorship Program provides $50,000 in funding each year during the planning and approvals phase of the project.
To date, the program has supported 24 projects across the Oberon and Bathurst LGAs, with more to come.
Applications for Round 5 of the Early Community Sponsorship Program are now open, with submissions closing on 31 August 2026.
More information and online applications: thepineswindfarm.com.au/sponsorship
ENDS
About The Pines Wind Farm
The Pines Wind Farm is a best-in-class, 2GW renewable energy project located within Forestry Corporation of New South Wales softwood pine plantations across Mount David, Gurnang and Vulcan State Forests. The project will:
- Deliver $605 million in economic benefits to theOberon and Bathurst region
- Reduce NSW electricity costs by $3.75 billionversus the status quo, powering 1.25 million homes
- Avoid $2.5 billion in the ‘Social Cost ofCarbon’ through lower emissions
It will supply nearly 10 per cent of New South Wales’electricity demand, have minimal ecological impact and require no newtransmission infrastructure. The project is owned by TagEnergy, which iscurrently constructing Victoria’s Golden Plains Wind Farm – the largest onshoreproject in the Southern Hemisphere.
About TagEnergy
Tag Energy is a clean energy enterprise creating competitive clean power stations to accelerate the energy transition and help the world reach net-zero carbon emissions sooner. Since its formation in 2019, TagEnergy has assembled a portfolio of more than 10GW of solar, wind and battery storage technologies in the UK, France, Germany, Japan and Australia, of which more than 2GW is under construction or operation.
TagEnergy is controlled by TagHolding SAS, a joint venture between the ImpalaSAS Group and Exor N.V., supported by major investors Mirova and Omnes, and is operated by a team of entrepreneurs, all shareholders.Its operations span the renewables value chain from development, financing, construction and asset management to commercialisation of its competitive clean energy.
About Stromlo Energy
Stromlo Energy is a 100 per cent Australian owned and operated renewable energy company and a leading developer of large-scale wind, solar and battery storage projects across the National Electricity Market.Founded by a team of industry leaders with a combined track record of delivering more than $6 billion in renewable projects now operating acrossAustralia, Stromlo Energy is focused on accelerating the nation’s transition to reliable, affordable and clean energy.
Committed to collaboration and long-term regional benefit,Stromlo Energy works closely with landholders, councils and communities to ensure its projects deliver lasting social, economic and environmental value.The company is a corporate member of the Clean Energy Council, Smart EnergyCouncil and RE-Alliance.
