Pottinger Energy Park is dedicated to engaging meaningfully with the community at every stage of the project. We are pleased to share the latest updates on Pottinger Energy Park. Explore our community initiatives, read our quarterly newsletters and find out what’s been happening at our Community Consultative Committee meetings.
Project Updates
Community Funding
Through our pre-construction stage, Pottinger Energy Park is proud to support a range of local organisations and community initiatives. The funding is part of our commitment to ensure the project delivers benefits to the region.
Hay Inc
Pottinger Energy Park has provided $25,000 in funding to Hay Inc to develop a new training module on renewables in and alongside agriculture, to be used as part of their practical training program for the next generation of local farmers. The new training module will improve recognition and education on the importance of food and fibre production alongside renewable energy production. This module will be designed to demonstrate innovative rural land-use and on-farm industry diversification. The program participants are aged 18 to 25 years and have finished school.
About
Hay Incorporated is a registered not for profit entity based at Hay NSW. Their volunteer committee consists of enthusiastic local Hay District community members who are focused on providing a unique and sustainable on farm set of skills in a hands-on practical method of training. This provides a baseline education and experience for young people to use as a springboard to a rural career. Hay Inc’s program also provides a network between district landholders, employers, and trainees, and to deliver ongoing mentoring for the trainees into the future.
Mid Murray, NSW Rural Fire Service
Pottinger Energy Park has provided $40,000 to Mid Murray, NSW Rural Fire Service to purchase a portable back-up generator and associated wiring for the brigade’s town halls. This funding will allow for reliable electrical supply to these halls during an emergency which means that these halls can be used more effectively as forward control and staging points for responders. It will also be available for relief efforts post incident.
About
The Mid Murray, NSW Rural Fire Service supports the local community by providing a volunteer-based community fire and emergency service. To protect the community and our environment, the Mid Murray, NSW Rural Fire Service, aims to minimise the impact of fire and other emergencies by providing the highest standards of training, community education, prevention and operational capacity. The Mid Murray district incorporates the Murray River Council, Edward River Council and the lower portion of the Murrumbidgee council areas, collectively known as Mid Murray Zone (MMZ).
Can Assist Deniliquin Branch
Pottinger Energy Park has provided $5,000 in funding Can Assist Deniliquin to purchase 20 new Wheelie Bins and signage that will enable the organisation to increase donations received each year through NSW Return & Earn Scheme. The new equipment will be used for major sporting and community events across the region.
About
Every dollar raised by Can Assist stays local to assist people to access to cancer treatment and care. By providing accommodation, financial assistance, and practical support we ensure that the same opportunities and treatment choices are afforded to rural communities as those who live in city centres. Distance means country patients are faced with an even bigger hurdle in their cancer journey. Can Assist Deniliquin has helped 220 members families since inception in January 2017 and is currently supporting 50 people in the region.
Giz A Break Limited
Pottinger Energy Park has provided $40,000 in funding to deliver camps for young people in Hay during 2025 and 2026. The camps are planned to be held in the Victorian High Country as multi-day camp groups limited to nine participants per camp. Facilitators will work with these small groups and support young people with trauma by assisting with the development of social and cognitive capacities that strengthen their resilience.
About
Established in 2019, Giz A Break is a registered health promotion charity that wraps mental and physical health and wellbeing initiatives into an off-road touring format. Giz A Break work with individuals, groups, and communities to foster a more connected, inclusive, and caring society. The underlying aim is to improve community health and wellbeing with a particular focus on mental health for young and ‘at-risk’ people in the Hay community.
Booroorban Sporting & Social Club
Pottinger Energy Park has provided $20,000 in funding to purchase a portable cool room on trailer with funds used for the purchase and registration costs of the mobile cool room. This funding will contribute to social activities and community infrastructure improvements in the Booroorban area.
About
Booroorban Sporting & Social Club organises local community events at Booroorban Hall for local social cohesion and connection. Booroorban is located on the Cobb Highway between Deniliquin and Hay NSW.
Yarkuwa Indigenous Knowledge Centre
Pottinger Energy Park has provided $20,000 in funding to the Yarkuwa Indigenous Knowledge Centre to develop a NSW South West Renewable Energy Zone First Nations Engagement Framework, with focus areas of education, job readiness, cultural wellbeing and community wellbeing. The development of the framework will include workshops with the local Aboriginal community organisations, key partner agencies and Pottinger Energy Park.
About
Yarkuwa Indigenous Knowledge Centre is a Traditional Owner organisation based in Deniliquin. It was formed in 2003 to ensure traditional owner knowledge was preserved in future generations.
Yarkuwa Indigenous Knowledge Centre
Pottinger Energy Park has provided $25,000 in funding to the Yarkuwa Indigenous Knowledge Centre to operationalise the Centre’s museum and public exhibition space. The organisation will develop an operational plan for the Centre and a strategic alignment framework with local and regional tourism operators and link to Edward River Visitor Economy Action Plan.
About
Yarkuwa Indigenous Knowledge Centre is a Traditional Owner organisation based in Deniliquin. It was formed in 2003 to ensure traditional owner knowledge was preserved in future generations.
Hay Children’s Services
Pottinger Energy Park has provided $10,000 to Hay Children’s Services to fund the development of a Bushfire Report and Development Application costs to support the establishment of a new mobile childcare venue in Booroorban.
About
Hay Children’s Services is the largest provider of childcare in the Hay & Hillston districts. HCS Mobile believes that all children have the right to access high quality learning experiences, regardless of geographical location. They providing childcare to rural families within a 200km radius of Hay bringing childcare to farm based families.
River Region Early Education
Pottinger Energy Park has provided $10,000 to support River Region Early Education’s goal to build the new childcare centre. Funds will be used towards Stage 1 works, required as part of the Development Application, which includes site analysis and concept design for the Deniliquin Childcare Centre.
About
Formed in 2000, River Region Early Education operates early education services, including preschool, childcare and ancillary services to support rural and regional communities, and to support vulnerable children in our community. River Region Early Education’s aims to build a new 114 place childcare centre that is fully operational by 2032.
Country Universities Centre Southern Riverina
Pottinger Energy Park has provided $50,000 to fund the purchase of student laptops and software, in addition to video conferencing equipment for the Country University Centres in the Southern Riverina.
About
The Country Universities Centre Southern Riverina NSW will service the Local Government Areas of Edward River and Berrigan Shire Councils with the establishment of two Regional University Study Hubs in the towns of Deniliquin and Finley. These hubs will aim to address significant gaps in access to tertiary education in a geographically isolated region with minimal infrastructure for higher education.
MIA District, NSW Rural Fire Service
Pottinger Energy Park has provided $40,000 for the purchase of equipment to be used across the district, with the focus on Rural Fire Brigades Hay Local Government Area. A range of equipment include e-flares, thermal imaging cameras, portable fridges and PMR Portable Radios will be purchased to enhance safety, co-ordination and communication when members are responding to fire and emergency situations.
About
The MIA District NSW Rural Fire Service supports the local community by providing a volunteer-based community fire and emergency service. To protect the community and our environment, the NSW Rural Fire Service, MIA District aims to minimise the impact of fire and other emergencies by providing the highest standards of training, community education, prevention and operational capacity. The MIA District incorporates the six Local Government Areas of Carrathool, Griffith, Hay, Leeton, Murrumbidgee and Narrandera.
Deniliquin Local Aboriginal Land Council
Pottinger Energy Park has provided $50,000 to install a solar power system to improve energy efficiency and reduce costs, and a heating system to deliver improved comfort and usability at Deniliquin Local Aboriginal Land Council.
About
Deniliquin Local Aboriginal Land Council works to improve the life outcomes of First Nations people in the area with respect to health, education, employment, security, housing and capability building.
Community Consultative Committee
Pottinger Energy Park has established a Community Consultative Committee (CCC) to support ongoing, open and transparent discussion on issues relevant to the project. It is one of the ways we will ensure local perspectives, knowledge and insights continue to inform how the project is delivered, and that the community is kept up to date.
The Pottinger CCC is independently chaired by Ian Colley and operated in accordance with the NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (NSW DPHI) Community consultative committee guideline.
Meeting minutes and presentations will be published below following their approval at the subsequent meeting.
