Community Futures Fund: supporting the wellbeing of Queensland communities
Community groups across Queensland are invited to apply for grants of up to $5,000 through the CleanCo Community Futures Fund, supporting initiatives that strengthen local wellbeing and create lasting community benefits.
The current grant round is open from 16 February to 30 March 2026.
The Community Futures Fund supports projects that make a positive difference in the communities where CleanCo lives and works. Applications are invited from:
- not-for-profit organisations
- community service providers
- First Nations initiatives
- educational institutions
- environmental associations.
Funding is available for eligible groups located in the following local government areas: Cairns, Cassowary Coast, Tablelands, Mareeba, Ipswich and Somerset.
In FY25, CleanCo supported more than 55 community initiatives across Queensland, helping local groups deliver practical projects and services that benefit their communities. Some of the organisations supported included:
- Atherton Performing Arts Inc – communication equipment and safety ladder
- Community Support Centre Innisfail Inc – support for the Community Harvest Box program
- Far North Queensland Wildlife Rescue Association Inc – fauna care products for wildlife carers
- West Moreton Health Foundation (Ipswich Hospital Foundation) – care packs and turbans for the Wig Lounge
- Marlin Coast Neighbourhood Centre Inc – solar panels and inverter for the centre
- North Ipswich Bowls Club Inc – bench seating for the bowling greens
- Linville Progress Association – resources for a community garden
- Collingwood Park State School – resources for a school garden
To learn more about the Community Futures Fund and apply, visit Community Futures Fund | CleanCo Queensland
CleanCo Customer Growth Reflects Rising Demand from Queensland Industry
CleanCo customer growth reflects rising demand from Queensland industry
CleanCo has quadrupled its electricity supply to customers over the past five years, reflecting increasing demand from Queensland industry for reliable, affordable and lower-emissions energy solutions.
The state owned retailer’s contracted annual electricity supply increased to more than 2.8 million megawatt hours in 2025. CleanCo says the growth reflects strong and growing confidence from customers with large and complex energy needs and was delivered in a record– breaking year for the company whose generation portfolio delivered more energy to the National Energy Market than it has since the corporation was established.
CleanCo’s acting Executive General Manager for Customer & Energy Markets Alex Driscoll said the growth demonstrates strong customer confidence in the energy generator’s ability to deliver reliable energy solutions that meet the needs of large and complex energy users.
“Since 2021, the volume of electricity we supply to customers has nearly quadrupled,” Mr Driscoll said.
“That growth reflects increasing confidence from industry in CleanCo’s ability to deliver affordable, reliable and sustainable energy, while supporting Queensland’s transition to an energy future that is affordable, reliable and sustainable for all consumers.”
The growth has been supported by CleanCo’s portfolio which supplies electricity across a broad cross-section of Queensland’s economy, including resources, retail, transport and logistics, property management, infrastructure and manufacturing, and government.
Some of the strongest increases have occurred in key sectors, with retail supply more than tripling and electricity supplied to transport and logistics customers more than doubling over the period. Strong growth has also been recorded across infrastructure, manufacturing and property sectors, reflecting rising demand for clean energy solutions.
More than 90 per cent of CleanCo’s contracted electricity volumes are backed by renewables, enabling customers to reduce emissions while maintaining certainty of supply and price over the long term.
“Our customers are operating at scale and need energy solutions that grow with them,” Mr Driscoll said.
“This growth shows CleanCo is delivering real value for Queensland businesses while supporting jobs and economic growth across the state.”
CleanCo’s growing customer base includes Coles and Woolworths, Hilton Foods, Cairns Regional Council and Ipswich City Council, as well as BHP Mitsubishi Alliance, North Queensland Airports, PepsiCo, Aurizon, Scentre Group – alongside many other businesses across Queensland’s economy.
ENDS
Battery milestone strengthens Queensland grid and powers Energy Roadmap
The Swanbank Battery has reached a key commissioning milestone, strengthening the reliability of Queensland’s electricity network. Located at CleanCo’s Swanbank Energy Precinct in Ipswich, the 250MW/500MWh battery is one of the largest in the state and is now able to operate at full capacity while final regulatory and market approvals are completed.
Operating alongside existing generation at Swanbank E, the battery provides fast-response energy support during periods of peak demand, helping improve system stability and support Queensland’s evolving energy mix.
Moah Creek Wind Farm Option Agreement
CleanCo Queensland has decided not to exercise its option to acquire the Moah Creek Wind Farm project.
The project was being progressed under a Project Option Agreement between CleanCo and private developer, Central Queensland Power (CQP). This agreement provided CleanCo with the option to acquire the project following completion of all development activities, including State and Federal approval processes.
As a result of ongoing assessments of all projects in development, including their alignment with the Queensland Government’s Energy Roadmap, CleanCo has determined that, as an owned asset, the Moah Creek Wind Farm does not align with its current strategic activities, commercial portfolio and investment priorities, given changing energy market conditions.
Following this decision, CleanCo withdraws from further development or delivery activities for the Moah Creek Wind Farm. However, CleanCo and CQP will continue discussions about a potential future offtake opportunity from the Moah Creek Wind Farm.
CleanCo acknowledges the time, effort and collaboration of landholders, Traditional Owners, near neighbours and community members who engaged during the early stages of the project.
CQP, as a private developer, will determine its own next steps for the project independent of CleanCo.
Christmas comes early for SALBAGOSS
Christmas has come early for an Ipswich after-school homework club, with CleanCo employees donating an array of books and stationery to support local students.
SALBAGOSS (Sudanese Australian Lost Boys and Girls of South Sudan), based at the Redbank Plains Community Centre, provides after-school tutoring, encouragement and healthy snacks to help primary and high school students stay engaged in learning.
CleanCo supported the club earlier in 2025 through a donation from our Community Futures Fund. When Swanbank Site Manager, Trevor Turner visited SALBAGOSS to present the donation, he identified further opportunities for CleanCo to support the group’s work.
One ongoing challenge for SALBAGOSS is providing enough learning resources for students. In response, teams from CleanCo’s Swanbank, Wivenhoe and Brisbane sites came together to collect books and unused stationery, resulting in a substantial donation. SALBAGOSS members visited our Swanbank site in December to collect the donation – and it was certainly much more than they were expecting!
This week, members of SALBAGOSS visited Swanbank to collect the materials, which will help local students start Term 1, 2026 well-equipped for the year ahead.
Endangered Mary River cod found thriving at CleanCo fishway in Ipswich
Fish sampling has identified the endangered Mary River cod using a fishway at the CleanCo-owned Berries Lagoon weir on the Bremer River in Ipswich, six years after the fishway was built.
Spanning 90 metres in length, this rock-ramp fishway was designed to restore fish passage past the weir, re-establishing connectivity between upstream and downstream reaches of the Bremer River.
This connection is important for many native species – including the endangered Mary River cod – which rely on unimpeded access to upstream breeding grounds and nursery habitats to support healthy populations. Restoring a top native predator like the Mary River cod will help strengthen river health by keeping invasive fish species such as Tilapia in check.
The Berries Lagoon fishway was built by Catchment Solutions in 2018. More recently, CleanCo has partnered with the Somerset and Wivenhoe Fish Stocking Association to release Mary River cod fingerlings into local waterways such as Bundamba Creek and the Bremer River.
After five years of re-stocking cod into Ipswich waterways, this was the first time the migratory species had been observed navigating the fishway. It’s a major win for native fish conservation.
Along with the Mary River cod, fish sampling conducted at Berries Lagoon in September found Australian bass and Sea mullet were also using the fishway – important recreational and indigenous fish species.
CleanCo’s Berries Lagoon Weir allows for an offtake of water from the Bremer River into Swanbank Cooling Water Dam, which supports operations at our gas-fired power station. CleanCo continues to manage the weir carefully to balance energy and environmental outcomes.
We’re proud to play a part in local conservation efforts. Seeing the species now migrating through the fishway is a powerful sign that our partnerships and persistence are making a real difference.
Major Wivenhoe bulkhead project on track for December completion
A major $3.7 million project is underway at Wivenhoe to refurbish the Splityard Creek Dam bulkhead system — a crucial asset that ensures the safety and reliability of the Power Station.
The bulkhead features three massive gates, each weighing around 22 tonnes, which allow the safe isolation of turbine pumps and penstocks during maintenance. This refurbishment marks the first major maintenance on the gates in 25 years and is a key preparatory milestone ahead of Wivenhoe’s major outage planned for May 2026.
To remove the gates, an 80-tonne crane was carefully manoeuvred across a narrow concrete bridge at the dam intake. Each gate was then carefully transported along Wivenhoe–Somerset Road to the Nu-Steel facility. Inside Nu-Steel, the gates are undergoing sandblasting, precision welding repairs, and the installation of new seals — critical to ensuring a watertight fit when the gates are in use. A fresh protective coating system will complete the process, with the entire refurbishment expected to take around 16 weeks.
Once the refurbished gates return to service, the team will perform leak-testing to confirm the system’s performance and readiness for future maintenance campaigns. This work helps ensure Wivenhoe continues to provide safe, reliable, flexible energy for Queenslanders.
Linville community garden becomes a reality
A new community garden in Linville is set to bring people together — and provide plenty of fruit for jam-making — thanks to support from CleanCo’s Community Futures Fund. As a Queensland Government-owned clean energy company, CleanCo is proud to support initiatives that strengthen regional communities.
Our sponsorship of the Linville Progress Association community garden project has helped volunteers create a “jam wall” trellis for fruit trees, along with purchasing trees, gardening equipment, improved drainage and additional water outlets.
Local residents worked together to design the garden, located behind the community hall. The Progress Association hopes it will become a focal point for local celebrations, a source of fresh produce and a new attraction for visitors exploring the nearby Brisbane Valley Rail Trail.
The Linville community hall is already a thriving hub for the Somerset region, hosting craft groups, indoor sports and movie nights, and serving as an official disaster centre in times of emergency.
With support from CleanCo, the dream of a community garden for Linville is becoming a reality.
New seating a boost for North Ipswich Bowls Club
CleanCo is helping ensure a much-loved North Ipswich sporting club continues to provide comfortable amenities and attract new members, sponsoring new bench seating for the bowling greens.
Operating since 1955, the North Ipswich Bowls Club has more than 100 members aged from 30 to 90 and provides a welcoming place for people of all ages – particularly older Australians – to connect, enjoy friendly competition and spend time outdoors.
Through our Community Futures Fund, CleanCo has supported the installation of additional seating, building on recent improvements such as disability ramps, shade over seating areas and new paved paths, all aimed at making the facilities more accessible and enjoyable.
With strong community spirit and members who pitch in to enhance the grounds, the club continues to thrive. CleanCo is proud to support a venue that brings such social benefit to the Ipswich community.
Responding to odour issues at Swanbank
Published 2 October 2025
In May this year, CleanCo became aware of increased odours in the Swanbank area both through community concerns, and because many of our team also live locally.
While odours around Swanbank are not uncommon, we had never previously detected odour coming from the ash dam. However, we discovered that unusually wet weather conditions earlier in the year led to higher inflows and increased nutrient levels in the ash dam. Around the same time, a rare event called a “turnover” — where deeper layers of water mix with surface layers — disrupted the ash dam’s balance. Together, these factors resulted in odour emissions coming from the ash dam.
After engaging an independent expert to analyse our water quality data and advise on the matter, we reduced water levels in the ash dam and installed additional aerators to restore the water’s microbial balance.
We will be updating our ash dam management procedures and will continue to engage with the Department of Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation (DETSI) regarding odours in the region.
While we can’t promise that there won’t be odour issues in the future, we can assure you that we will always do our best to respond quickly to community concerns. We understand odours in the Swanbank area impact daily life, and we appreciate the community’s patience while we worked through this issue.
For any further questions, please email community@cleancoqld.com.au
Published 5 June 2025
CleanCo has been working closely with our neighbours, the Department of Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation (DETSI) and independent technical experts to better understand and address increased odour in the Swanbank area.
Weather conditions in April and May resulted in increased inflow to our ash dam, raising water levels and potentially contributing to the odour that some residents have noticed in the area. As an immediate step, CleanCo has been removing water from the ash dam to help reduce water levels and mitigate potential impacts.
We’ve also increased air and water quality testing to support investigations and here’s what we can share so far:
- Water quality in the ash dam has shown some signs of improvement, and odour levels have reduced. The installation of an additional aerator has been implemented to support these changes. Laboratory tests are ongoing to monitor nutrient levels and microbial balance.
- Expert advice is on hand. We’ve engaged environmental consultants to help identify and implement further treatment options, including long-term solutions to mitigate similar issues in the future.
CleanCo is committed to evidenced-based environmental management and will continue to undertake daily air and water quality monitoring to make sure we stay on top of the issue.
To talk to us about this matter please email community@cleancoqld.com.au
Thank you for your patience as we work through this.
Published 13 May 2025
CleanCo is aware of recent community concerns about increased odours in the Swanbank area.
Recent weather conditions have resulted in increased water inflow to our ash dam, leading to elevated water levels. While investigations are ongoing, this may be contributing to the odour being experienced.
We are working closely with our neighbours, the Department of Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation (DETSI) and independent technical experts to better understand and address the situation. In the meantime, CleanCo is actively removing water from the ash dam to help reduce water levels and mitigate potential impacts.
We remain committed to monitoring water and air quality closely and will continue to take responsive actions to minimise any disruption to the local community.
To talk to us about this matter please email community@cleancoqld.com.au
Thank you for your patience while we undertake this work.