The Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation has installed two solar battery and storage systems through the Victorian Government’s $1.1 million clean energy program for Aboriginal community groups.
The Traditional Owner Renewable Energy Program will continue to support self-determination and economic independence by delivering renewable energy projects directly to communities like the Wadawurrung community.
Victorian Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Gabrielle Williams, said, “Renewable energy projects like this support community to reduce their emissions to protect the environment, and reduce the costs to local Aboriginal Corporations, so that they can keep supporting their communities to thrive.”
Under the program, the Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation has installed two integrated solar energy generation and storage systems − a 15kW-48kWH solar-battery system in Ballan and a 7.4kW-13kWh system in Ballarat.
The renewable energy systems will provide a sustainable, clean energy source, reducing the Corporation’s associated energy costs as well as carbon emissions by 45 tons per year.
The Victorian Government’s Traditional Owner Renewable Energy Program is designed to support Aboriginal participation and adoption of new energy technologies, boost skills and help fuel a clean energy driven economic recovery, with grants of up to $100,000 available to Traditional Owner Corporations.
Victorian Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change, Lily D’Ambrosio, said, “We’re supporting Aboriginal communities to harness renewable energy, save money on bills and help meet our goal of halving the state’s emissions by 2030.”
The Victorian Member for Buninyong, Michaela Settle, said, “The Wadawurrung people will benefit now and into the future thanks to this project, which will advance both self-determination and energy independence.”
Other Traditional Owner Corporations that have received funding under the program include:
- Gunaikurnai Land and Waters Aboriginal Corporation
- Barengi Gadjin Land Council Aboriginal Corporation
- Wurundjeri Land & Compensation Cultural Heritage Council Aboriginal Corporation
- First People of Millewa-Mallee Aboriginal Corporation
- Yorta Yorta Nation Aboriginal Corporation
- Dja Dja Wurrung Clans Aboriginal Corporation
- Gunditj Mirring Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation
The Program acknowledges the right to self-determination and recognises that only when Aboriginal people are central to the decision-making processes that affect their lives, will sustained and long-term changes in wellbeing and the health of Country be achieved.
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