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Our work with communities

Hero picture - Energy engagers

ENERGY. SHARED.

Stanwell prides itself on being active, supportive and engaged in with our communities hosting our energy plants and projects. We know that the future of energy requires not only vision, investment and skill, but most importantly the support of communities. We believe in sharing as much as we can with our communities, including information, benefits and opportunities.

Read about our approach to community engagement here, and visit this page for our upcoming events and engagements to meet us in person.

APPLY FOR A COMMUNITY GRANT

Apply through Smarty Grants

Sharing Benefits

Stanwell has set up grants for regional communities to invest in the people and projects that shape our communities. From supporting local schools and non-profits to funding innovative sustainability initiatives, we're committed to positively impacting the lives of those around us.

We work closely with community leaders to understand the needs of our host communities and provide funding for the things that are most important to them and prioritise projects that make a genuine quality of life contribution to our communities in the Southern and Central Queensland.

In the last financial year (2023-24) we invested $601,000 in 103 community based projects.

Social Investment 2023-24 stat

Read more about our community grants here:

HOW WE ENGAGE:

Around each of our projects and sites, we set up different ways to engage and get involved. Read about our latest engagements in our community newsletters.

LOCAL PROCUREMENT

Visit our "Doing Business with us" page and register your local business with us. We are here to help and support local businesses to share in the benefits of the energy transformation.

In 2023-4 $96 million was spent with local businesses in our host communities.

Doing business with us
Regional procurement stat 23/24

OUR PRINCIPLES OF ENGAGEMENT

When working with our communities we apply our values: We Care. We Adapt. We Deliver.

We also draw on the regional energy transformation principles informed by community consultation undertaken by the Queensland Government. You can see these principles reflected in Stanwell’s sustainability commitments.

LOCAL VOICES

  1. To drive genuine and ongoing engagement with our communities. We demonstrate an inclusive, collaborative approach to supporting communities through the energy transformation.

  2. To engage, value and involve First Nations Peoples - recognising their unique connection to Country and the opportunity for active participation and economic benefit from the energy transformation.

LOCAL CHOICES

  1. To support communities to build local capacity to positively manage change and unlock the benefits associated with the energy transformation.

  2. To promote diverse economies, enabling diverse land uses, and coexistence between industries where possible, to maintain and strengthen local economies.

  3. To foster environmental resilience and deliver better biodiversity outcomes and contribute towards meeting climate targets.

LOCAL BENEFITS

  1. To share lasting benefits with communities - creating opportunities to share the economic, social and environmental benefits of energy transformation.

  2. To expand workforce opportunities and secure livelihoods - fostering opportunities through training, promoting workforce diversity and embedding secure work.

  3. To build local and buy local by expanding local procurement, manufacturing and supply chain opportunities, working with local businesses to enable greater participation.

Ever wondered what goes into bringing a new energy project to life?

Explore the six typical stages and timelines to take a project from an idea to construction and the importance of community engagement in this process.

ENERGY PROJECT PLANNING STAGES

  • Stage 1: Site Selection

    There are many organisations actively looking for good sites for new renewable projects across Queensland.

    In this pre-development phase, initial technical work is undertaken by developers to confirm the quality of the renewable energy resource, identify factors that might impact a project and to seek out appropriate locations for energy infrastructure.

    This phase can take place over many months or even years, and may not result in an actual project outcome.

    Securing development land is the first important step in any renewable project.

    Lifecycle - Stage 1
  • Stage 2: Land Option

    Once a prospective site for a project is identified, project developers approach land owners to enter into an option for that land.

    This is also the stage where Traditional Owners of the land would be engaged.

    Following negotiations, a legal land option would typically be entered into with the land owners and an agreement with Traditional Owners.

    This can take a few months to complete. A land option does not mean the project will necessarily go ahead.

    Lifecycle - Stage 2
  • Stage 3: Project Feasibility

    This is when the initial big project investment is made, with various technical assessments and designs undertaken.

    During this phase the applications for planning and environmental approvals are prepared. There may also be a need to be cultural heritage management plans negotiated and agreed with Traditional Owners.

    Projects will also begin working with local councils, stakeholders and communities around the proposed site.

    The feasibility phase of the project can typically take up to a year.

    Lifecycle - Stage 3
  • Stage 4: Development Approval application

    Once the relevant technical assessments and designs are completed, the applications for planning approval ('development approval' or DA) and environmental approval are submitted. Depending on the location, some projects need to obtain federal environmental under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act ('EPBC approval') as well as approval for vegetation clearing from the relevant state agencies.

    An important aspect of the development approval phase is to engage with the local council, neighbours and suppliers to consult on how the benefits of the project will be shared with the local community, and strategies the project will adopt to manage the environmental impacts, traffic impacts and other disruptions that will occur particularly during the construction phase of the project.

    The approval process can take around six months, and is still not a guarantee that the project will go ahead.

    Lifecycle - Stage 2
  • Stage 5: Connection Agreement

    The grid connection process is a crucial and complex stage in any energy project. A great deal of behind-the-scenes work happens here.

    Apart from the connection agreement, detailed design, commercial and legal work to inform the Financial Investment Decision (FID) is undertaken and the project developer may look for a partner to off-take the energy that will be produced from the project.

    This stage can take around a year to complete after development approval is received.

    Lifecycle - Stage 5
  • Stage 6: Financial Investment Decision (FID)

    This is sometimes called ‘Financial Close', where the project has the required approvals, a grid connection and necessary funding in place and a decision is made to proceed with construction.

    To secure funding, project proponents may enter into joint venture agreements, or sell their project to another developer to take it through the construction and commissioning phases.

    A typical project planning lifecycle is three to four years from start to finish - although it is not unusual to take longer.

    Lifecycle - Stage 6

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