The why and how of Indigenous engagement on infrastructure projects

As a proud Wajarri Yamaji woman from regional WA, Indigenous Energy Australia Senior Consultant, Cat Holland, brings valuable insight on how infrastructure projects can impact Traditional Owner communities.

“When they are delivered thoughtfully and with community in mind from the outset, they are about so much more than bricks and mortar. They are an opportunity to leave a legacy – whether through benefit sharing or co-designed outcomes,” she said.

Having entered the industry seven years ago, Cat has since helped pay these outcomes forward.

During the Metronet project – the largest public rail infrastructure program in WA’s history – she worked closely with Noongar Elders and Traditional Custodians to deliver long-lasting outcomes they were proud to share with their community.

“Even though it was a while ago now, this project is something I’ll remember and be proud of,” she said. “By understanding the cultural significance of the places, we were able to communicate to project teams why it was important to keep trees and install new artwork in the project sites.

“Through landscaping and signage, we even embedded place names in Noongar language in the ground and walls of train stations, helping to restore the identity and the belonging of Noongar people to that place. We then got to take the Elders to the awards night to celebrate this work because it won the NAIDOC Perth Award for Healing Country in 2021.

“Something I’ll always remember is an Elder saying she wanted to ride the train one day and show her grannies [grandkids] her culture proudly displayed through the projects. She was so proud to have given her input and been a part of it. These legacies matter profoundly to our communities.”

The projects also boosted the local economy. There were pre-employment and apprenticeship programmes, which helped funnel young people into rail mechanics, electrical work, and work awarded to Indigenous construction businesses.

“It made an all-round positive impact on community wellbeing,” she said.

Taking it further

Cat’s later work with Infrastructure WA through a strategic advisory role, and more recently as a Senior Consultant for IEA, reflects her commitment to supporting First Nations-led infrastructure outcomes.

Guided by the Elders she worked with on Metronet, she continues to champion approaches that put community aspirations at the centre, and hopes to continue working with mobs nationally.

Now at IEA, fostering these community stories of change is the bread and butter of what Cat does.

“We partner with Indigenous communities, industry, and government to transform the way infrastructure is developed and delivered, working across all levels,” she said.

“On the one hand, we are providing technical support and strategic guidance to organisations, and on the other, we are developing those trusted relationships on the ground.

“Through this approach, we uncover and embed priorities and perspectives we hear and work towards a future where the community determines their own future – one that’s both decarbonised and reconciled.”

Connection building

IEA often intervenes early in a project. Government and developers often approach the organisation for advice on how to foster community connections – and Cat says this can help things move forward.

“Sometimes organisations come to us because they have reached out to a community and haven’t heard back. They want to do the right thing, but they aren’t sure how to take it further from there. They don’t know if they have buy-in.

“That’s where we would come in and, with our local networks, find out why that is. Perhaps there have been some bad experiences with developers in the past, or they’re just not interested in that particular sector.

“Or, perhaps the Aboriginal corporation is going through its AGM season – they’re at capacity and don’t have the time or the people to speak or organise things on behalf of the developer.

“The IEA way is to connect the project with the communities’ goals and aspirations, show face on Country, and make sure that there are reciprocal benefits for community who shows the developer around so they can trust that it’s leading somewhere, it’s important that this leads to action.”

Alongside Cat, much of the IEA workforce has lived experience and Cat says this can help organisations engage in a deeper level of perspective.

“For example, we often think of energy as turning on the lights, but, for some remote communities, it’s also about accessing water. When you’ve got a bore, you need to have power to draw the water out of the ground. These systems are often powered by diesel which can be expensive for the community to maintain.

“In contrast, renewable energy systems – that are reliable and cost-effective – represent a future where communities can succeed on their own terms, maintaining connection to their Country.”

Helping communities negotiate

As well as shepherding partners through the relationship building and engagement process, Aboriginal communities sometimes seek IEA’s advice on how to achieve their own goals through renewable energy development.

“You need a reasonable knowledge of the technicalities of a project to understand what you, as a community member, can expect from it,” Cat said.

“If a community is fully powered by diesel generators and want to move to renewables they need to understand their power needs and a pathway to replace their existing systems.

“And then, what kinds of infrastructure could go in their place, how long will it last, how do you maintain it, what sort of components might the new system need and how do you get them to where you are?

“There’s a lot to figure out and some communities aren’t in the position to know this quick enough to take advantage of the transition we are in right now. Other communities have had promises made over and over again that never come to fruition, which is incredibly frustrating and exhausting for them.”

Cat’s approach

While the work is not without challenges, Cat says a few things guide her approach. First and foremost, understanding what communities’ want for themselves and how to facilitate this.

“I’ll never forget this big piece of art featuring a Kulbardi (magpie) on the side of a building we developed which was an opportunity for an Aboriginal artist,” she said. “And I remember negotiating it with the project manager – who hadn’t been sure if it was a good idea for budget and schedule reasons.

“He was coming at it from a risk management perspective, and my job was to help him mitigate any risks to achieve a community benefit. I find this happens a lot when you are trying to negotiate those outcomes. There is always a reason not to do it. But what is the reason to do it? I’ve seen first-hand that these are the aspects the project team are most proud of at the end of the project, and leaving a legacy far outweighs the initial instinct to do a business-as-usual project.

The successful outcome enabled Noongar Elders to see their vision on the project come true at the same time providing a business opportunity to an Indigenous artist.

“I’m proud to have pushed for the outcome on behalf of the community,” she said.

Further insight

Sharing more on her journey and IEA’s approach, Cat will present at the upcoming First Nations and the Energy Transition Forum held 4-5 December at the Novotel Langley Perth.

Learn more and register your tickets here.