Community and social investment

Our investment focus areas

Local community investment

Flexible funding that responds to local community needs and supports local outcomes. This includes:

• Powerlink's Community Grants Program for eligible local government areas
• Support for local community events as part of our community relations activities

Community capacity and resilience

Initiatives that strengthen community capability and help regions prepare for future opportunities and challenges. This may include:

• Business capability and development programs
• Education, training and skills initiatives
• Community infrastructure projects
• Health and wellbeing programs

Legacy and regional investment

Long-term, large-scale initiatives that deliver lasting social and economic benefits for a region. These investments aim to create enduring outcomes that support regional growth and community wellbeing.

Central Queensland Community and Social Investment Program

Powerlink has committed $4 million to the Central Queensland Community and Social Investment Program.  This regional investment initiative will support eligible local government areas where we have active projects, including:

• Banana Shire Council
• Gladstone Regional Council
• Rockhampton Regional Council
• Isaac Regional Council

As Powerlink progresses its portfolio of regulated and market-led projects in the region, additional funding opportunities may be incorporated into new or existing regional initiatives.

How funding will be delivered

Powerlink will work with communities and stakeholders to help shape investment priorities and delivery mechanisms.

• Community Grants Program
  The Community Grants Program is the primary delivery mechanism for local community investment and supports projects that provide direct benefits to local communities. Visit the Community Grants webpage to learn more about this program.
   
• Community investment initiatives
  For Community Capacity and Resilience and Legacy and Regional Investment initiatives, Powerlink will host a regional stakeholder workshop later in 2026 to help co-design the Central Queensland Community and Social Investment Program. The workshop aims to:
  • bring regional stakeholder together
  • confirm and refine regional priorities (drawn from CQ Social Impact Assessment) 
  • identify opportunities for collaboration and partnerships
  • explore potential delivery models
  • help shape future investment opportunities

Funding opportunities for these initiatives are expected to commence from 2027, following stakeholder engagement and program design activities.

How investment decisions are made

Community and social investment decisions are informed by the findings of our Central Queensland Social Impact Assessment, additional targeted stakeholder engagement in 2026, the program’s guiding principles and criteria, and Powerlink’s role as a Transmission Network Service Provider.

Applications to the Community Grants Program are assessed through an established governance process. An internal assessment panel reviews applications against defined program objectives and assessment criteria.