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16 Jun 2025, by Amy Sarcevic
The clean energy transition is often viewed as a technical and commercial challenge, but – if recent statistics are anything to go by – social factors can carry equal weight in the equation.
Between 2019-2023, it is estimated that 23 percent of project failures were the product of poor stakeholder management; and, for projects that survive community pushback, there can be hiccups, delays and challenges down the track when seeking further approvals.
Conversely, projects that engage communities well can see better outcomes on both sides.
Community partnerships are the answer
Hydrostor – a Canadian company, focussed on long duration storage assets – knows this all too well, and is partnering with communities to invest in the sustainability and security of their future.
Kath Hawkins, Stakeholder and Permitting Director, says she is listening and engaging often, to understand the community’s aspirations.
“Nobody knows the answer to a community engagement question better than the communities themselves,” she said.
“We take the view that traditional landowners and residents have a role to play in guiding us towards the right solutions, and providing ideas.”
Being curious
To get the most out of community engagement, Kath encourages proponents to stay curious and look beyond conventional approaches.
“We like to stay curious and seek out opportunities that feed into the broader aspirations of the community – not necessarily just jobs,” she said.
“With our Project in Broken Hill, traditional owners told us they want to be able to share their stories and teach younger generations.
“So, to support this we have encouraged trainees to attend some aspects of cultural heritage work and we have had professional footage taken of ceremonies and activities and provided this footage, to the registered aboriginal parties to allow them to distil and utilise.
“By being curious, you can help leave a lasting legacy – in this case, preserving people’s stories and culture.”
On top of that, Kath and team continually seek advice from industry experts to ensure Hydrostor is a culturally safe organisation.
“We seek to understand and broaden our knowledge of the many cultures we work with – not only to meet people’s expectations, but to go above and beyond.”
Initiatives
Hydrostor also has a range of initiatives to help build a better future for its communities.
Partnering with the Clontarf Foundation, it will provide opportunities for young First Nations and Torres Strait Islander men to attend school and receive mentorship opportunities.
It is also helping to identify and expose First Nations businesses and bring them into the supply chain, via a partnership with the NSW Indigenous Chamber of Commerce.
Communities will be given opportunities to participate in the project, with a focus on encouraging local employment and training.
Using connections from Business engagement sessions that were held in Broken Hill and live streamed and recorded for access for participants, Hydrostor is hoping to broaden business connections and skill opportunities
It is looking at opportunities to broaden and strengthen training and skills initiatives for youth and community with the Department of Education, NSW TAFE and the Country University Centre within Broken Hill.
Further insight
Kath Hawkins shared more about the important work Hydrostor is doing to engage communities at the First Nations and the Energy Transition Conference.
This popular gathering for industry and community leaders addressed energy security and explored the role First Nations communities have in Australia’s clean energy transition.
The event covered themes such as:
Visit the conference website here to register your interest in next year’s event.
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