Acknowledgement of Country
EnergyCo acknowledges that our offices and all the projects we’re delivering are on Aboriginal land.
We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the land and we show our respect for Elders past and present through thoughtful and collaborative approaches to our work.
We seek to demonstrate our ongoing commitment to providing places in which Aboriginal people are included socially, culturally and economically.
The NSW Government has committed $10 million to the First Nations Fund through the Community and Employment Benefit Program
The program is paused while the current applications are assessed, but you can learn more about the program below.
Hundreds of millions of dollars will be made available for community and employment benefits in the Central-West Orana REZ over the next 33 years.
Similar programs are under consideration in other regions of NSW.
Income, employment and community benefit programs
Learn about employment, training and local business opportunities in NSW’s renewable energy sector.
Learn more about opportunities for local businesses in renewable energy zones and other Electricity Infrastructure Roadmap projects.
Learn more about the Community and Employment Benefit Program.
First Nations Guidelines
The Minister for Energy has issued guidelines on consultation and negotiation with local Aboriginal communities for electricity infrastructure delivered under the Roadmap. These guidelines are a requirement under the Electricity Infrastructure Investment Act 2020 (EII Act), the legislation that establishes the Roadmap.
The guidelines set out the expectations for respectful engagement with local Aboriginal communities for the purpose of increasing employment and income opportunities for Aboriginal people in the construction and operation of new electricity infrastructure projects, delivered under the Roadmap.
There are 2 parts to the guidelines: general guidelines and region-specific guidelines.
General guidelines
The NSW Government reviewed the general guidelines to ensure they continue to meet community expectations, foster respectful engagement, and increase jobs and income opportunities for local Aboriginal communities through the state's energy transition.
The revised general guidelines support local Aboriginal communities to achieve long-term income and job opportunities through renewable energy projects, aligning with their goals for self-determination and economic independence.
Read the general guidelines.
The NSW Climate and Energy Action website has more information about the guidelines.
Region-specific guidelines
There are currently region-specific guidelines published for the Central-West Orana, Hunter-Central Coast and South West Renewable Energy Zones (REZs).
Guidelines for the New England and Illawarra REZs are in development.
The Central-West Orana guidelines are the first region-specific guidelines to be published. They were developed in close consultation with a working group representing local Aboriginal communities in and around the Central-West Orana REZ. Revised guidelines were released in 2023.
These guidelines have been developed with the Hunter-Central Coast First Nations Working Group who represent local Aboriginal communities from the Hunter-Central Coast REZ.
The Guidelines have been developed with the South West First Nations Working Group who represent local Aboriginal communities from the South West REZ.
Energy proponents should be aware Aboriginal communities may have other consultation obligations under NSW and Commonwealth legislations concerning cultural heritage, environmental, social, or other impacts of proposals.
The requirement to consult and negotiate under these First Nations Guidelines does not replace or change any of these other requirements. Proponents must exercise due diligence to understand and meet all relevant legislative requirements for proposed projects to ensure consultation with local Aboriginal stakeholders addresses all relevant matters of concern.
The NSW Government has introduced the Aboriginal Procurement Policy (APP) to support and create better long-term outcomes for Aboriginal people, businesses, and communities.
The policy applies to NSW Government departments and agencies procuring external goods and services. The APP requires suppliers tendering for government contracts (over the value of $7.5 million) to submit an Aboriginal Participation Plan as part of the tender process.
A participation plan is a written statement outlining a prospective supplier’s activities to employ and train Aboriginal people or use Aboriginal-owned businesses in supply opportunities.
The participation plan must demonstrate proposals include one or a combination of the following:
- at least 1.5% of the contract value subcontracted to Aboriginal-owned businesses
- at least 1.5% of the contract’s Australian-based workforce (full-time equivalent) that directly contributes to the contract to be Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander peoples
- at least 1.5% of the contract value to be applied to the cost of education, training, or capacity building for Aboriginal staff or businesses directly contributing to the contract.
NSW Government departments must comply with these conditions under the NSW Government’s First Nations Procurement Policy, NSW Government 2021.
If a government contract does not fulfil these commitments, the remaining balance of the proposed participation spend is paid to Training NSW.
EnergyCo expects proponents to meet the NSW Government’s Aboriginal Procurement Policy (APP) as a starting point for consultation and negotiation with local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities on relevant projects. This includes reporting and verifying the progress of meeting commitments made under the plan.
While the APP does not apply outside of NSW Government contracts, the policy approach is a useful benchmark for the assessment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people’s participation in projects proposed under the Roadmap.
You can learn more about Aboriginal participation in Roadmap tenders on the ASL website.
Contact the First Nations Coordination and Outcomes team
We have a dedicated First Nations Coordination and Outcomes team that leads consultation and engagement across NSW’s renewable energy zones.
This team works with local Aboriginal Working Groups in renewable energy zones to facilitate communication between EnergyCo, project proponents and communities.
They’re also the main contact for negotiating industry and Aboriginal participation plans, and they help develop community and employment benefit programs.
Get in touch via email or phone below.
Call 1800 118 894 (9 am to 5 pm, Monday to Friday)
Artwork on this page by Yirra Miya First Nations Creative Agency.
Get in touch with EnergyCo
1800 118 894 (9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday)
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