Gunaikurnai Elder Lena Morris remembers a time when First Nations communities were sidelined from developments, but things have changed.
As Gippsland’s offshore wind industry heads towards its expected 2030 construction start date, developers are regularly meeting with Morris and members of the Gunaikurnai Land and Waters Aboriginal Corporation (GLaWAC) to discuss how the industry can deliver job security and community benefits – not just to First Peoples but the whole of Gippsland.
Different times: Most of Latrobe Valley’s coal-fired power stations were built between 1920 and 1990. Back then, developers were not legally required to consult with Indigenous groups about the historical significance of the land – or provide any kind of community benefits.
🗣️“We were excluded from any native title rights to the coal mines because of the government,” Morris told the Monitor. “They set the policies, and when they sold [the land] off to private investors, we're still excluded from it.”
That all changed after 1993, when the federal government passed the historic Native Title Act.
Changes: Now, when big developers want to build on traditional land, they can enter into voluntary partnerships with First Nations corporations. Morris believes these agreements are leading to better outcomes not just for Indigenous communities but everyone in the region.
Time will tell: The CEO of GLaWAC, Nick Ashburner, spoke to the Monitor outside the Gippsland New Energy Conference on Tuesday and said the partnership between the First Nations group and offshore wind developers is still in the early stages.
🗣️ “What's exciting for Gunai/Kurnai people is to be at the table early means that it will be fair and equitable,” Ashburner said. “If the government's behind it and the industry proceeds, it's a huge industry. And to start it in Victoria, I think we'll have a massive benefit.”
What will these agreements cover? Four offshore wind developers have entered into a voluntary Engagement Agreement with GLaWAC.
These agreements don’t lock the company into any commitments, but give GLaWAC the opportunity to advise developers on what the First Nations group wants from the construction of the offshore wind industry - whether that’s job security, community benefits or environmental protection.
The agreements are a first step that can lead to various compensation packages for local communities and Indigenous groups. That could look like:
Financial compensation: Regular financial compensation through the form of local infrastructure investments or community trust funds.
Cultural and environmental management: Developers will often fund environmental management programs, such as First Nations rangers, to protect sacred sites and maintain the surrounding ecosystem.
Local job security: Ashburner said one of the areas he’s particularly keen on seeing is agreements that include regular investment in local businesses and procurement targets, which would mean more long-term jobs for all Gippslanders.
The idea? A guarantee of local jobs, apprenticeships and career development pathways – not just for Indigenous community members but for all Gippslanders.
Ashburner said: “Gunai/Kurnai people are going to benefit from this, but the conversations we're having are going to benefit the broader community as well, because we're ensuring the targets are local targets.”
What do developers think about this? During a panel discussion on Tuesday, spokespeople from four Gippsland offshore wind developers reiterated the importance of working together with local Indigenous leaders.
Chief Development Officer for Star of the South, Erin Coldham, told the panel the company has been inviting Gunai/Kurnai representatives to take part in early feasibility studies for the wind farm.
Ashburner said these conversations had informed developers of how electrical cables running from offshore wind farms could impact the ecology of sand dunes - and now developers are aware of this concern.
Renee Kurowski, a Senior Manager at the clean energy company Iberdrola, told the panel: “We want to make sure traditional owners are part of the decision making from the very start. If we all work together early on it means better outcomes for all of us.”