Quilpie - Climate-KIC

Designing and testing financial models to attract private sector investment for sustainable transitions in rural regions. These models will be replicable for other climate and economic initiatives in outback communities.

Understanding new market value

beyond financial returns

Mapping beneficiaries

incuding private sector actors

Develop and test key transition narratives

aligning with objectives of key corporate investors

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Project objectives

Create a financial model which articulates the strategic benefit for private project beneficiaries to invest in an existing Regional Development Project – Quilpie Wellspring;
Demonstrate how the financial sector can invest in climate adaption to deliver commercial returns and greater community resilience;
Demonstrate a new investment logic for catalysing systems change;

Why is this project needed?

Regional communities that rely on agriculture are being exposed to extreme climate change impacts, particularly drought, creating an environment of economic decline. The Quilpie Wellspring project seeks to unlock economic growth opportunities by moving to more sustainable, advanced and circular technologies. It highlights a new way to deliver prosperity and jobs to outback communities.

The emerging need for regional projects to mobilise private sector support is now core to unlocking significant public funding. However, there is no clear precedent for this blended capital stack and innovative models are needed.

How does the Quilpie Wellspring collaboration address this issue?

To make Quilpie Wellspring ‘investment ready’ requires a business case, with clear and attractive market value. Our hypothesis is the we can uncover the market value of the project by exploring the relationship between the Project Proponents and Project Beneficiaries in a deeper, systemic and more strategic way.

We will identify the level of funding or financing available from the private sector and design a financial model. The gap between the capital requirement and private funding will be funded by Government or philanthropic institutions. The mix of government-funded, private sector investment and philanthropic donations can be referred to as a blended capital stack. This model represents an approach where government funding is allocated to de-risk the project and encourage broader investment for the project.