An Ipswich City Council energy fund is giving residents the power to help make the city greener.
Council’s Ti Tree Bioenergy Community Fund is set to launch in early 2026, financially supporting individuals, community groups and businesses to deliver projects to improve their local community and environment.
Environment and Sustainability Committee Chairperson Councillor Jim Madden said the community fund will give grants of up to $15,000 to help deliver eco-improving projects on private land, complementing council’s work in public spaces.
“This is a great initiative and complements the Ti Tree Bioenergy Fund, where projects have been carried out generally on public land,” Cr Madden said.
“The Ti Tree Bioenergy Fund and the Ti Tree Community Fund are for projects that offset the perceived or real social and/or environmental impacts of the Ti Tree Bioenergy Facility at Willowbank.
“Eligible applicants can apply for up to $15,000 (ex GST), per project, per funding round. Applicants must demonstrate an in-kind contribution of at least 10 per cent of the funded amount.”
Cr Madden said council was finalising funding guidelines for the fund, which would be released this month on Ipswich’s Funding and Support webpage.
A grant application form is expected to be available for viewing in early 2026, allowing time for the community to become familiar with it before the funding round opens.
The Ti Tree Bioenergy waste disposal facility, located in Willowbank, has been operating since 2002. A development permit for the facility, issued by the Planning and Environment Court in the same year, includes a condition for contributions for local environmental improvements.
“This condition requires Ti Tree Bioenergy, the facility operator, to make annual payments to Ipswich City Council to address any potential social and environmental impacts, whether perceived or real, arising from the facility’s operations,” said Division 1 Councillor Pye Augustine.
“These contributions are administered by council through the Ti Tree Bioenergy Fund. Originally the scope was limited to projects delivered by council, on land managed by council.
“A portion of the funds has now been allocated for community funding that is available to residents, community organisations and businesses, under the Ti Tree Community Fund.”
Division 1 Councillor Jacob Madsen said 2026 round one applications would open on 1 March and close on 31 March. Round two applications would open on 1 September and close on 30 September.
“This is a competitive grant category, open to eligible individuals, not-for-profit community organisations and businesses,” Cr Madsen said.
“It is not open to government agencies or departments of local, state, or federal government (excluding Parents and Citizens Associations of primary and secondary schools), or waste or waste-related businesses.”
The Ti Tree Bioenergy Facility was established 23 years ago at Willowbank. In 2002, as a condition of the development approval at that time, it was determined that Ipswich City Council would receive annual payments of $120,000 plus a charge per tonne of waste processed above a specified amount. These funds were legally required to be used by council expressly on projects that delivered community and environmental benefit.
Cr Madden said the program was making progress in the delivery of appropriate and valued community and environmental projects.
“From May to September 2025, council received 28 project proposals. Of the submitted projects, six projects were received from the community via the Shape Your Ipswich Ti Tree Bioenergy Funding page. The other 22 were submitted for consideration by council staff or Councillors,” Cr Madden said.
“Of the 28 projects that were submitted, 15 projects were recommended for commencement, three projects were already captured within the scope of 2024-2025 approved projects, and 10 projects required further investigation.”
For more information visit www.ipswich.qld.gov.au/funding.
