From framework to impact: redefining community benefit sharing in major infrastructure

The release of Marinus Link’s Draft Community Benefits Sharing Framework for public exhibition marks an important milestone in this shift. It reflects a purposeful move toward a more transparent, structured and partnership-based approach to benefit sharing that is grounded in local priorities and focused on enduring outcomes.

It also highlights an important evolution for the sector: how strong frameworks can be translated into practical, place-based impact through collaboration and delivery over time.

Moving beyond traditional benefit sharing

Historically, benefit sharing has often been approached as a series of discrete initiatives such as grants, sponsorships or negotiated agreements delivered alongside project development.

While these approaches can generate value, they are often:

• Short-term in focus
• Fragmented across multiple programs
• Disconnected from broader regional priorities

As infrastructure projects increase in scale and complexity, there is a growing need for more structured and strategic approaches to community benefit.

The Marinus Link Community Benefits Sharing Framework represents a step forward in this evolution.

Through its three-tier model of immediate, enduring and legacy benefits, it recognises that value is created differently over the life of a project, from early trust-building through to long-term regional prosperity.

Importantly, it embeds benefit sharing as an integrated part of project delivery rather than a parallel activity.

Designing with place in mind

A defining feature of the framework is its emphasis on designing benefits with place at the centre.

Communities differ in their economic structure, social dynamics, cultural identity and exposure to infrastructure impacts. Effective benefit sharing responds to these differences and aligns investment with local priorities and aspirations.

The CBSF has been intentionally designed to enable this. It establishes a structure that supports ongoing engagement and collaboration, creating space for communities, Traditional Owners and regional stakeholders to help shape how benefits are delivered in practice.

This approach provides a platform for co-design. It allows future programs and investments to be informed by local knowledge and aligned with regional development, workforce transition and community resilience outcomes. In doing so, it ensures that benefit sharing evolves alongside the communities it is intended to serve.

From funding to outcomes

A common challenge across the sector is the tendency to equate funding allocation with impact.

While funding is essential, meaningful outcomes are driven by how investments are prioritised, delivered and adapted over time.

The CBSF establishes a strong foundation for this through:

• Clear guiding principles
• A commitment to transparency and public reporting
• A portfolio-based approach to legacy investment
• Built-in mechanisms for adaptive management

Together, these elements create a pathway to move beyond activity-based funding toward a more outcomes-focused model of investment.

This foundation will be supported by a robust operational approach that brings structure, governance and delivery discipline to the framework. Through this, the CBSF is well positioned to translate strategic intent into consistent, practical outcomes for communities across the life of the project.

The role of governance and partnerships

Delivering long-term community value requires more than funding. It relies on effective governance and genuine partnership.

One of the most significant aspects of the CBSF is its commitment to working in partnership with communities and exploring models such as community-led foundations to support the delivery of legacy benefits.

This approach strengthens independence, builds trust and enables locally informed decision making. It also supports long-term stewardship beyond construction and creates opportunities to leverage additional investment into regions.

At its core, this represents an important shift in how infrastructure projects operate. Proponents are not simply delivering benefits to communities, but working alongside them as partners in shaping and delivering outcomes.

Building systems, not just programs

The future of benefit sharing lies in connecting initiatives into broader systems of impact.

This includes aligning community investment with:

• Regional economic development strategies
• Workforce and skills pathways
• Social infrastructure and community services
• Broader energy transition initiatives

When these elements are connected, benefit sharing can act as a catalyst for wider regional outcomes. It enables communities to not only manage the impacts of infrastructure, but to participate in and benefit from the opportunities created through the energy transition.

Turning strategy into action

Strong frameworks provide direction, but their success is ultimately defined by how they are implemented.

Delivering meaningful outcomes requires:

• Clear articulation of intended impacts
• Structured approaches to planning and evaluation
• Alignment between strategy, governance and delivery
• Ongoing learning and adaptation

The CBSF incorporates these elements and establishes the conditions for effective delivery over time. Its emphasis on transparency, accountability and continuous improvement supports a model where outcomes can be tracked, refined and strengthened as the project evolves.

A collaborative milestone

The development of the CBSF reflects a significant collaborative effort across Tasmania and Victoria.

Through extensive engagement, communities, Traditional Owners, government, industry and regional stakeholders have contributed to shaping the framework’s priorities and principles.

RPS has been proud to support this work. Our Social Advisory together with Communications and Engagement teams have partnered closely with Marinus Link throughout the engagement program and the development of the framework, helping to bring together diverse perspectives and translate them into a structured and practical approach to benefit sharing.

This has been a true partnership, grounded in collaboration and a shared commitment to delivering long-term value for communities.

The release of the draft framework builds on this foundation and opens the next phase of engagement, with communities continuing to play a central role in shaping how benefits are delivered.

Looking ahead

As the CBSF moves from consultation into implementation, the focus turns to delivery.

With a strong foundation in place, and a clear commitment to partnership and co-design, there is a significant opportunity to demonstrate how infrastructure projects can create meaningful, place-based outcomes over time.

Marinus Link is well positioned to contribute to this shift. Through the continued collaboration of communities, project partners and stakeholders, the CBSF can support a model of infrastructure delivery that is not only technically successful, but socially and economically transformative.

More broadly, it provides a pathway for the sector. One where infrastructure projects contribute to lasting value, strengthen communities and play an active role in shaping a more resilient and inclusive energy future.