Renewable Energy Firms Unveil Major Community Initiatives Across Isaac Region

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Renewable energy companies operating across the Isaac region have announced a series of community-focused initiatives aimed at delivering long-term benefits for local residents, businesses and schools.

The package includes commitments to improve telecommunications, road safety, local employment pathways, education opportunities and regional resilience, following ongoing consultation with communities and collaboration with Isaac Regional Council.

Renewable energy companies Squadron Energy, CS Energy, Iberdrola Australia and Tilt Renewables have spent the past year working together through a regional collaboration group designed to better coordinate renewable energy projects and respond to priorities identified by the local community.

Among the headline initiatives is a joint $750,000 commitment from Squadron Energy, Iberdrola Australia and CS Energy to upgrade the existing Telstra telecommunications tower at Broadsound, improving internet and phone coverage for households, farms and businesses in the Clarke Creek area.

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A contract with Telstra has now been signed, with works expected to begin shortly and be completed within the next 12 to 14 months.

Once complete, the upgrade is expected to improve emergency response capabilities, support safer travel and provide more reliable access to essential services across the region.

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Squadron Energy Head of Community and Regional Development Jessica Kite said the collaboration aimed to ensure renewable energy developments created tangible local benefits.

“Working with Isaac Regional Council and Iberdrola is about making sure the clean energy future delivers real, lasting benefits for locals, from more local business opportunities through our local supplier forum to stronger pathways into education and work through scholarship programs,” she said.

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“The Clarke Creek telecommunications tower upgrade is legacy infrastructure that matters, providing more reliable coverage that improves safety and access to services for households and businesses. We heard from farmers that feral pigs are a major issue, together with Council and Iberdrola we can deliver a coordinated control program that helps strengthen regional resilience.”

The collaboration group is also working with Isaac Regional Council to improve transparency and coordination around road infrastructure contributions linked to renewable energy developments.

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Roadworks have already been completed along sections of Marlborough Sarina Road, while additional upgrades have recently been announced by the Queensland Government through the Department of Transport and Main Roads. Future priorities include speed management signage and further safety improvements around Clarke Creek.

Iberdrola Australia Chairman Ross Rolfe AO said the companies recognised the pressure major projects could place on regional infrastructure during construction phases.

“We know our projects have an impact on infrastructure and services, particularly during construction. Improving the connectivity of the Clarke Creek community is to support businesses and households is one important step.”

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Tilt Renewables CEO Anthony Fowler said the transition to renewable energy needed to support regional communities as well as energy generation.

“The energy transition is more than just providing sovereign domestic energy to support our growing regions, it’s also about supporting the communities in those regions to thrive,” Mr Fowler said.

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“Isaac Regional Council has provided invaluable feedback on how renewable projects can benefit regional communities and how we can maximise those benefits. This collaboration reflects what communities have been asking for - a more coordinated, collective approach. By working together, we can deliver outcomes that are more meaningful and enduring for regional communities.”

The group is also backing workforce and supply chain development initiatives following a Renewable Energy Supply Chain Forum in Moranbah earlier this year, which attracted around 90 industry, business and community representatives.

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Renewable energy companies involved in the collaboration will also attend the Moranbah State High School Careers Expo on July 30 to promote future training and employment pathways in the region.

Additional projects under discussion include support for students through Country Universities Centre Isaac, a regional feral pig management program in partnership with the Invasive Species Council, coordinated community engagement efforts across projects, and potential future solar and battery solutions for Clarke Creek State School.

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Isaac Regional Council Mayor Kelly Vea Vea said the collaboration demonstrated the importance of renewable energy companies working closely with local communities.

“Social licence is built through practical action and genuine engagement with communities, not just consultation,” Mayor Vea Vea said.

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“Our communities want to see tangible benefits alongside development, whether that is safer roads, better telecommunications, local business opportunities, support for schools or programs that strengthen regional resilience.

“What is encouraging about this collaboration is that companies are working together with Council and local communities to focus on shared priorities and practical outcomes that will leave a lasting benefit for the Isaac region.”

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The regional collaboration group said the initiatives represented a shared commitment to practical outcomes, stronger regional coordination and ongoing engagement with communities across the Isaac region.

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