SEC increases Horsham Community Benefit Fund

21 November 2025

State-owned renewable energy company, SEC, has announced plans to increase the Community Benefit Fund for its solar farm and battery project located on the outskirts of Horsham.

The SEC Renewable Energy Park – Horsham will invest $3 million in local projects, initiatives and services through the Community Benefit Fund after increasing its investment to $100,000 a year (indexed for CPI) for the 30-year operational life of the project.

SEC’s Executive General Manager of Assets, Lane Crockett, said the $30,000 a year funding increase reflects shared priorities identified during close engagement with the Horsham community.

“Community consultation highlighted the unique role this project has in Victoria’s renewable energy landscape as a publicly owned, large-scale renewable energy asset,” said Mr Crockett.

“What became evident during our consultation was the increased impact we could achieve by increasing the annual allocation, so we have adjusted our funding accordingly.”

The feedback is detailed in SEC’s Community Consultation Report which summarises responses from more than 100 people who attended in-person and online information sessions and completed surveys via the Engage Victoria consultation hub.

They shared valuable ideas on how SEC investment in local programs and initiatives could support the community, providing clear direction on what matters to residents, including the benefits increased funding could deliver.

Common themes included a need to support local jobs, skills, and education; youth with disabilities; and community infrastructure upgrades.

“We thank the people who took time to have their say and look forward to supporting local projects when our Community Benefit Fund launches next year,” Mr Crockett said.

In 2026 the fund will provide $42,000 to support community initiatives during construction, ahead of the $100,000 a year commitment once the project is operational. Currently under construction, SEC Renewable Energy Park – Horsham is one of Australia’s first 100% publicly owned utility-scale renewable energy projects.

The 119MW solar farm includes more than 212,000 photovoltaic solar panels and a 100-megawatt, two-hour battery energy storage system, capable of powering 51,000 homes during peak demand.

The project will also create around 246 jobs during construction, including 20 positions for apprentices, trainees and cadets.