Image
Image: Remote Area Planning and Development Board power grid map.
The Central West Queensland region's organisation of councils—the Remote Area Planning and Development Board (RAPAD)—and CopperString founders Queensland company VisIR, developed the Community Benefit Royalty Agreement (CBRA) to deliver financial benefit to communities from future transmission and clean energy infrastructure related to the proposed RAPAD Power Grid.
Initial modelling indicates total cash payments flowing direct to communities will exceed $160 million over a 30-year period, in addition to broad economic benefits from construction and operational activities.
RAPAD Chair and Longreach Region Mayor, Tony Rayner, said the group believes the CBRA is an Australian-first, with a clear framework that aligns the interests of the community and energy infrastructure investors and ensures the RAPAD Power Grid can set a new benchmark for well-planned economic development in rural Australia.
"RAPAD is working hard to put our region ahead of the game and our economic development and social benefits at the heart of clean energy investment in our region," Mayor Rayner said.
"Working with VisIR as our development partners for RAPAD Power Grid, we have researched models in Australia and the US and consulted with my fellow mayors to develop a framework that is clear for our community, government and investors, and provides real cashflow that we can invest in our communities' infrastructure priorities."
"We don't just want to be renewable energy hosts; we want to be renewable energy partners."
"The Central West is well ahead of the game in terms of encouraging economic development while also maximising our influence so that whatever is built aligns well with the best interests of the community and delivers real financial benefits to the entire region," Mayor Rayner said.
Mayor Rayner said they had already consulted with other Mayors in western Queensland and would continue to do so as the RAPAD Power Grid CBRA has the potential to apply in other regions.
"We believe the CBRA scheme will provide renewable energy project investors, developers and owners with certainty and make our region more attractive for investment, and ensure local communities are at the table very early in the process."
Payments under the RAPAD Power Grid CBRA are part of the community benefit expenditure that energy investors typically include in development budgets and does not change taxes, fees and charges paid to state and federal governments, as well as local government rates.
Image
Image: Remote Area Planning and Development Board logo.
Note: Case study current as at 17 October 2025.
Adapted from: Landmark Community Benefit Royalty Agreement targets $150+ million for Central Western Qld from RAPAD Power Grid—RAPAD.