Community engagement
Snowy Hydro has sought engagement with a wide range of community and stakeholders as part of the planning and environmental assessment for the Hunter Power Project. Our stakeholders include government agencies, utility and council stakeholders engaged with during the EIS studies. Community engagement during the EIS preparation has included:
- The establishment of a dedicated email address and 1-800 information line.
- Letterbox drops and door knocking to local residences and businesses.
- Three community working group meetings.
- One-on-one meetings with nearby residents as requested.
Snowy Hydro is committed to ongoing engagement with the local community and stakeholder groups for the duration of the approvals phase of the Proposal and during project development. During the public exhibition of the EIS, the community engagement will be undertaken to ensure a good understanding of the EIS by interested community members.
If you have questions please do not hesitate to call the community information line: 1800 570 529.
Hunter Power Project Community Investment Initiative
Snowy Hydro is committed to strengthening communities in the local and regional area of the proposed Hunter Power Project. As part of this commitment, we operated a Community Investment Fund to benefit local communities. This initiative has awarded over $175,000 across 39 different community projects in the regions of the Hunter Power Project and within the Cessnock and Maitland Local Government Areas.
We are excited to announce a reinvigorated community initiative will be launching in January 2024 as part of our commitment to maximise our positive impact within the community. This will involve the extension of our Snowy Hydro Local STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) Fund to the Hunter Power Project locality, an initiative that focuses on empowering and inspiring our future generations. With a commitment to education and development, Hunter Power Project’s Local School STEM Fund will collaborate with local schools to encourage and promote STEM learning in (and out) of the classroom, as well as, career pathways in STEM through community grant funding.
Stay tuned for updates on how you can engage with the Local School STEM Fund over the coming months.
About the Hunter Power Project
The Hunter Power Project – a 660MW gas-fired power station in Kurri Kurri, NSW – will build on the existing capacity of the mighty Snowy Scheme and support our pumped hydro expansion, Snowy 2.0. The power station will comprise two heavy-duty, hydrogen-ready open-cycle gas turbines (OCGT) and are the latest and most efficient turbines. The OCGTs for the Hunter Power Project will provide the necessary dispatchable ‘firmed’ energy, ensuring security and stability to support intermittent renewables.