The framework spans workforce development, local procurement, First Nations participation, and education pathways, all designed to embed the project within the fabric of the region and ensure the benefits are felt well beyond construction.
Delivering long-term value to community development
The project will deliver two cornerstone community initiatives over a 14-year period:
- Community Development Fund – $420,000
- Indigenous Services Support – $1,050,000
Enervest and Energy Vault will work closely with local councils, Traditional Owners, and community groups to direct these funds toward high impact areas identified by these groups, with a focus on education, wellbeing, inclusion, and community resilience.
Education and skills building for local sesidents
Once operational, the project will partner with Narrabri TAFE to deliver training programs for up to 10 participants. Courses under consideration include:
- Diploma of Project Management
- Certificate IV in Work Health and Safety
- Diplomas in Conservation and Ecosystem Management, Horticulture Management, and Logistics
These programs aim to strengthen local employment readiness and build long-term capability within the energy and infrastructure sectors.
Supporting regional industry through local procurement
- The project’s procurement strategy will prioritise local and regional suppliers to maximise economic benefit. Key targets include:
- Approximately $100 million in regional goods and services during development and construction
- $26 million in local spending during operations and maintenance
- 100% of project steel sourced locally.
This approach supports job creation, drives regional growth, and strengthens domestic supply chains.
Workforce inclusion and development targets
Inclusive workforce targets have been set for the construction phase:
- 20% of the workforce to be Learning Workers
- 15% drawn from underrepresented groups
- 20% of all trade’s roles filled by apprentices
These targets will be supported by tailored training, mentoring, and career progression pathways for local workers and students.
First Nations participation and engagement
The Social Licence framework includes strong, measurable commitments to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander participation:
- 1.5% of total project value to be spent with First Nations businesses
- 5.0% of total workforce to be comprised of First Nations individuals
- $320,000 allocated to targeted training and employment support
These commitments reflect Enervest’s ongoing collaboration with the Narrabri Aboriginal Land Council and the Gomeroi community to foster respectful engagement and inclusive economic participation.
Shared vision for the future
Together, Enervest and Energy Vault are striving to establish best practices for meaningful community engagement within the energy sector. By embedding these commitments into project planning, they aim to ensure that Narrabri and the surrounding region are not only beneficiaries of the Stoney Creek BESS, but active participants in its success.
By submitting this form you agree to pv magazine using your data for the purposes of publishing your comment.
Your personal data will only be disclosed or otherwise transmitted to third parties for the purposes of spam filtering or if this is necessary for technical maintenance of the website. Any other transfer to third parties will not take place unless this is justified on the basis of applicable data protection regulations or if pv magazine is legally obliged to do so.
You may revoke this consent at any time with effect for the future, in which case your personal data will be deleted immediately. Otherwise, your data will be deleted if pv magazine has processed your request or the purpose of data storage is fulfilled.
Further information on data privacy can be found in our Data Protection Policy.