Aboriginal engagement for the Hunter Transmission Project

The Hunter Transmission Project corridor has been carefully chosen to avoid or minimise impacts on Aboriginal heritage. Insights from Aboriginal stakeholders, Traditional Owners and RAPs have helped refine the project and guide measures to protect cultural values.    

Wherever possible, the corridor avoids or minimises impacts on cultural heritage, including: 

• key sites of high cultural significance
• features such as rock shelters, culturally modified trees and grinding grooves
• culturally significant areas identified by Aboriginal knowledge holders and field studies
• Dreaming, important viewlines, and cultural landscapes.

Where we can, we’re using land that’s already been cleared or disturbed to build the Hunter Transmission Project to help minimise impacts on Aboriginal heritage, people and the environment.   

Explore the Hunter Transmission Project corridor

We’re committed to creating positive outcomes for Aboriginal people, families and communities through the Hunter Transmission Project. 

At least 1.5% of the project’s contract value will go towards Aboriginal employment, business and training opportunities, in line with the First Nations Guidelines. 

We’ll develop a benefit sharing package to ensure the Hunter community sees lasting, meaningful benefits during and after construction of the HTP. Early consultation has helped identify potential opportunities, and engagement with key stakeholders including Aboriginal service providers will be ongoing as the package is developed. 

The Hunter Transmission Project’s benefit sharing package will be developed and delivered under our Community and Employment Benefit Program, which aims to: 

• improve liveability in regional communities impacted by new energy infrastructure 
• improve and create local employment opportunities 
• improve outcomes and opportunities for participation for First Nations people 
• support regional economic development 
• improve community connection 
• boost resilience and innovation. 

EnergyCo's Community and Employment Benefit Program

An Aboriginal heritage assessment has been carried out as part of the environmental impact statement prepared for the project.  

The assessment involves engagement with Aboriginal communities and RAPs, and detailed investigations including desktop studies, cultural mapping, field surveys and test excavations. 

Aboriginal heritage is both tangible elements – such as stone artefacts, scar trees (culturally modified trees), rock shelters and grinding grooves – and intangible values like Dreaming, important viewlines, and cultural landscapes.

Early findings have identified 32 Aboriginal sites within the project area. Five sites of high significance will be avoided, and we'll manage all identified sites through mitigation measures during construction. 

Before construction starts, we'll develop an Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Management Plan (ACHMP) in consultation with the Registered Aboriginal Parties to manage, minimise and avoid impacts. 

Read more about the assessment and early findings in the fact sheet below.  

Aboriginal heritage impact assessment (August 2025)