Upper Spencer Gulf Traditional Owners welcome State Government investment

A once-in-a-generational change is breathing new life into the Upper Spencer Gulf

Barngarla community members Vera Richards, Dominic Croft and Wes Bilney from ElectraNet’s EPLink Project. Picture: Supplied

The Traditional Owners of much of the Upper Spencer Gulf are welcoming the opportunities the State Government’s investment into the region will provide for generations to come.

Since 2021, the Barngarla Traditional Owners have held native title to nearly 45,000km sq of the Eyre Peninsula including Port Lincoln, Whyalla and Port Augusta.

The Barngarla Determination Aboriginal Corporation (BDAC) is the official registered native title body corporate appointed by the Federal Court of Australia to manage the Barngarla determination.

Over the past six years, BDAC has secured shareholdings in major ports on its country, is the landlord of the largest solar farm proposed on its country and has negotiated multiple Indigenous land use agreements that have resulted in a strong financial asset base for all Barngarla people.

BDAC has been working with the Office of Hydrogen Power South Australia and members of its community to explore the long-term benefits of renewable energy industries being established on Barngarla country. “The South Australian Government’s commitment to renewable energy aligns with our strategic vision to create a healthier country, healthier community and a more prosperous and cleaner planet for future generations of our people and the people of the Eyre Peninsula,” BDAC chairperson Sonja (Jonas) Dare says.

“Renewable energy means less impact or pollution of our most limited, yet essential-to-life resource, water.

“We look forward to our continued work with the South Australian Government, the Office of Hydrogen Power South Australia and wider industry to shape a renewable energy future on the Eyre Peninsula that delivers a positive impact for the region and the Barngarla people through increased employment, improved health outcomes, education and improved infrastructure.”

BDAC’s deputy chairperson Jason Bilney points to the “shared mutual respect and commitment to work together to develop this important, innovative and transformative project for our state”.

“We are proud leaders in industry negotiations which result in First Nations’ People having real interests and stakeholdings in the renewable energy revolution,” he says. “We will continue to work to engage, negotiate and protect our country, culture and heritage while ensuring this project delivers opportunities for all our members, and the broader community on the Eyre Peninsula. Our current and future generations will benefit from clean energy and the security of the infrastructure and energy provision.

“They will also benefit from the jobs being created and the growth in the Eyre Peninsula region will continue. It means our youth will be able to attain skills and employment on their own country instead of leaving to find employment.

“Through our partnerships with companies, we’ve forged a new path – one that honours our tradition while embracing progress. It’s about more than just financial gain; it’s about creating lasting social and environmental change for our community and the broader region.”

New technical college prepares students for employment

Local training for local people – for local jobs. That’s the underlining philosophy behind plans to provide a skilled workforce to deliver the raft of green energy projects throughout the Upper Spencer Gulf – and then keep them operating well into the future.

It’s why Port Augusta was identified among five locations across the state – and one of only two in regional South Australia – to host an innovative technical college, which will provide students with direct pathways to in-demand jobs.

Along with TAFE campuses at Whyalla, Port Augusta and Port Pirie and the University of South Australia site at Whyalla – the largest regional university campus in SA – the new college ensures the region will be well placed to develop a pool of skilled workers.

Education Department executive director Clare Feszczak says Port Augusta’s college will be specifically tailored to prepare students from Years 10 to 12 at schools throughout the district to ease into the local workforce.

“The technical colleges offer training for school students directly for the jobs that exist in the region,” she says. “The tech college will provide a pipeline of skilled young people for entry-level jobs in that region.”

Education Department executive director Clare Feszczak. Picture: Supplied

The Port Augusta site will offer pathways to the industry sectors of mining and mineral processing, renewable energy, manufacturing and construction, hospitality and tourism, and health and social support.

“Those areas have all been identified because there’s high workforce demand in the region for them now and into the future,” Feszczak says.

Designed by ARM Architecture, construction of the tech college – being built by Sarah Constructions within the Port Augusta Secondary School site – is due to start this month.

About 400 students annually are expected to participate in the part-time programs at the college, which will also offer short-stay accommodation for those enrolled from outside Port Augusta.

Each of the workplace-focused technical colleges has its own employer partners, who will take on students once they have completed the program.

“These employer partners are also included in the facility design and the learning program and skills. So they’re helping to co-design these technical colleges with a view to ensuring that all students are learning the right things in the right way, in the right environment ready to transition into the workplace.”

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