Since 2018, Pacific Blue have held an integral role in the running of the highly celebrated Sweet Days Hot Nights Festival however, the work the organisation achieves in and around the Burdekin community extends far beyond sponsorship.
Pacific Blue’s Haughton Sustainable Communities Fund was created to share the benefits of the Haughton Solar Farm with the wider community, providing long-lasting social, economic and environmental value extending beyond the life of the solar farm itself.
Lachlan Sturt, Pacific Blue’s Manager of Stakeholder Relations, believes in supporting local events like the Sweet Days Hot Nights Festival and through introducing the Haughton Sustainable Communities Fund, Pacific Blue can continue to strengthen its close connections within the community.
“Since the commissioning of the Haughton Solar Farm in 2019, Pacific Blue’s Haughton Sustainable Community Fund has proudly supported 76 local projects with more than $462,000 in funding,” explained Lachlan.
“These projects span a wide range of initiatives, from upgrading essential community facilities to supporting local sports clubs, environmental sustainability efforts, and vital community services.”
Commissioned in 2019, the Fund has provided more than $300,000 to 52 local sustainable projects including those pioneered by the Ayr Surf Life Saving Club, Lower Burdekin Landcare Association, Zonta Burdekin, and the Home Hill Tennis Association Inc. and in light of recent events, Pacific Blue has decided to adjust the terms of the 2025 Fund application process.
“To support the Burdekin’s recovery following this year’s devastating floods, Pacific Blue has brought forward our annual Community Fund, which is now open,” highlighted Lachlan.
“We know how resilient this community is, and we want to do our part to help local groups get back on their feet.
Eligible community groups are encouraged to apply for project funding up to $10,000 from a pool of $80,000 and are able to do so online at pacificblue.com.au or through the QR code.
“The response from the Burdekin community to the Haughton Sustainable Community Fund has been overwhelmingly positive and we’re incredibly proud of the strong relationship we’ve built with the Burdekin community,” Lachlan added.
“Sponsoring the Sweet Days, Hot Nights Festival aligns closely with Pacific Blue’s mission to leave the world a better place by celebrating the unique stories, traditions, and heritage of the communities we are part of.”
“Supporting events like Sweet Days, Hot Nights not only strengthens our bond with the Burdekin but also reinforces our shared dedication to preserving local heritage, fostering cultural appreciation, and driving regional prosperity.”
The Fund opened on Monday the 31st of March and will close on Friday the 9th of May and all successful recipients will be announced on stage at the Australian Hand Cane Cutting Championships on Saturday the 31st of May.
“While our solar farm remains tucked away behind tall sugarcane fields, our presence in the community is well known - not just through our renewable energy projects, but through the partnerships and support we provide,” said Lachlan.
“The Burdekin is a place of resilience and warmth, and we’re both humbled and proud to call it home, standing alongside the community to support initiatives that make a lasting difference.”
The Home Hill Tennis Association Inc. recieved an allocation from Pacific Blue's Haughton Sustainable Communities Fund in 2024 (Photo Supplied)
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