Silver City Aboriginal Participation Planning

Overview

Tika EQ was engaged by Hydrostor to develop the Aboriginal Participation Plan and Action Plan for the Silver City Energy Storage Project, a landmark Advanced Compressed Air Energy Storage (A-CAES) facility near Broken Hill, NSW, located on Wilyakali Country.

As one of Australia’s first long-duration renewable energy storage projects, the Silver City Energy Storage Centre will deliver up to 200 MW of capacity and eight hours of clean, dispatchable energy, strengthening regional energy reliability and supporting the national transition to net zero.

Our work ensured the project’s delivery was guided by cultural integrity, local benefit, and Aboriginal partnership, embedding practical and measurable pathways for Aboriginal employment, enterprise, and governance across all project phases.

Our Role and Approach

Tika EQ worked closely with Hydrostor, community representatives, and the NSW IndigenousChamber of Commerce (NSWICC) to co-design an integrated participation framework that combines cultural, social, and economic outcomes.

Our role included:

• Developing the Aboriginal Participation Plan and Action Plan aligned with the NSW First Nations Engagement Guidelines and Closing the Gap Reform priorities.
• Facilitating engagement with Traditional Owners and Aboriginal businesses to inform practical strategies for inclusion and benefit-sharing.
• Designing a multi-year action plan structured around three strategic drivers: People and Culture, Education and Employment, and Enterprise Development.
• Establishing mechanisms for ongoing measurement, reporting, and adaptation across the project’s lifecycle, including alignment with Hydrostor’s Long-Term Energy Service Agreement (LTESA) obligations.

This approach embedded Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) principles, ensuring genuine Aboriginal leadership in decision-making and cultural heritage management.

Key Outcomes

The final Aboriginal Participation Plan and Action Plan delivered:

• A governance and engagement framework recognising Traditional Owner authority and establishing long-term communication pathways.
• Employment and training strategies creating pathways for Aboriginal apprenticeships, traineeships, and operational roles across all project stages.
• Defined procurement targets, including a minimum 1.6 % First Nations participation of total project contract value, alongside partnerships to strengthen Aboriginal-owned business capability.
• A Community Benefit Agreement and Aboriginal Community Fund, co-designed with local Aboriginal stakeholders, to support education, scholarships, and local enterprise growth over 10 years.
• Tools to track impact and accountability, including quarterly reporting, workforce participation dashboards, and cultural heritage protection audits

Legacy and Impact

The Silver City Aboriginal Participation Plan sets a new standard for First Nations engagement in renewable energy infrastructure.

By embedding People, Education, and Enterprise as core strategic pillars, Hydrostor, supported by Tika EQ, has created a blueprint for inclusive clean-energy development that delivers shared value and respects Country.

This framework not only advances Aboriginal participation in the energy transition, but also strengthens social license, cultural trust, and regional resilience, ensuring the benefits of clean energy extend to the communities who have long cared for the land.