Shared Community Benefit Program

We’re delivering long-term benefits that support the region’s transition and future.

Lithgow has helped power New South Wales for generations. As the energy system changes, it matters that the people who have supported that system continue to share in the opportunities it creates.

That’s why the Mt Piper BESS project includes a Shared Community Benefit Program designed specifically for the Lithgow community. The program will operate throughout project development, construction and the early years of operation, focusing on supporting local jobs, skills, businesses and community initiatives as the region transitions to new forms of energy.

We’re already reaching out to key local organisations, First Nations groups, training providers and community leaders to help shape and activate the program early — so it reflects local priorities and delivers real, lasting benefits.

Subject to a Final Investment Decision, the program is expected to deliver:

  • Around 200 construction jobs, with a strong focus on local participation — including a target of 30% local employment, apprenticeships and traineeships to help build skills for the future
  • $6.4 million in community benefit sharing, with the majority directed to First Nations initiatives, supporting inclusive, long-term opportunities for people and businesses in the region
  • A $1 million Voluntary Planning Agreement (VPA) with Lithgow City Council, contributing to local infrastructure and economic development

This program is about working with you — listening, learning and investing locally — so Lithgow continues to play a strong role in NSW’s energy future while supporting a strong, resilient community.

2025 STEM School Program

We are using education to connect young people with the energy transition happening around them.

Through our STEM Schools Program, more than 1,000 students across nine schools in the Lithgow region took part in hands-on science and energy learning during May and June 2025. The program introduced students to how electricity is generated, stored and used — linking classroom learning to real-world energy projects being developed in their local area.

Students explored big energy ideas through practical activities such as building circuits, experimenting with energy efficiency, and interacting with a large-scale battery model. These experiences helped demystify complex concepts, encourage curiosity and teamwork, and show how science and engineering play a role in shaping the future.
The program was designed not just to teach STEM, but to build understanding, confidence and connection — helping young people see that the transition to cleaner energy includes their community and creates opportunities close to home.

We’re proud to have worked alongside local schools, educators and community partners to deliver an initiative that supports learning today while inspiring the problem-solvers of tomorrow.

Community Consultative Committee

We ensure the community has a formal voice.

The EnergyAustralia Lithgow Region Community Consultative Committee (CCC) provides a formal platform for open communication between EnergyAustralia and the local community. Independently chaired, its purpose is to foster dialogue, gather feedback, and address concerns. The Mt Piper BESS is regularly discussed in this forum.

The CCC follows requirements set by the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (DPHI) meeting quarterly. Membership includes Lithgow City Council, environmental groups, community groups, residents and Wiradjuri Traditional Owners.

Read the latest minutes: Resources 

Engagement to Date

We engage early and often, creating meaningful opportunities for the community to stay involved

Late 2024–present: Following planning approval in November 2024, engagement has shifted to activating the Shared Community Benefit Program and preparing for construction communications, subject to a Final Investment Decision.

Engagement continues through detailed design, construction and early operations to keep the community informed and involved as the project progresses.

2022–2024: Engagement expanded during preparation of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), including discussions with landholders, neighbours, community representatives, local councils, government agencies and regulators.

Feedback gathered throughout this period — including during the formal EIS public exhibition in June 2024 — directly informed project refinements and approval conditions.

2021–2022: Community and stakeholder engagement commenced during early project feasibility, ahead of formal planning requirements.

Initial informal discussions helped inform site investigations, understand local context and shape early design and technical studies.

Let's stay connected

Sign up for updates, ask a question or have your say.

Subscribe now

 

Energy Australia acknowledges that the site of the proposed Mt Piper BESS project is on the traditional Country of the Wiradjuri people. We recognise their continued connection to land, waterways and community, and we pay our respects to Elders past and present.