Sphere No.46 (Mar 2019)

* At peak employment Population Full time staff* (local hires) Solar panels Generation capacity Homes energised Learning through experience to Grow Hughenden SOLAR PARK Hughenden, Queensland 1,100+ 100 (60) 68,000 20 MW 6,500 Karadoc SOLAR PARK Mildura, Victoria 60,000 280 (200) 348,000 112 MW 110,000 P ow e r p e o p l e Beon has taken this approach and it has paid off, not only in successful projects that earn business partners’ respect and government support, but also in enriched lives for refugees, the long-term unemployed, rehabilitated prisoners and everyone in their families who depends on them. The solar panels at Hughenden and Karadoc may light up thousands of homes and businesses, but the Beon approach to local development has lit up the lives of individuals, families and whole communities with the big heart it brings to business. Advice When moving in and running a large project in a remote community, it may seem easier to just ship in your regular suppliers and ship them out again, isolating them from the local community until the job is done. But Mr Thomson thinks others can learn from the Beon experience. When asked, he advises others to “Engage early!” He claims it will save money in the long term and secure local community support. Taking the time to understand local stakeholders’ needs and conducting a thorough stakeholder mapping can lead to deeper understanding that sees projects succeed – and helps sustain a legacy of a better trained, more experienced, financially and socially richer community. Chandler Macleod also ran a one-week pre-employment training programme to bring new workers up to speed on skills needed, and over 100 employees came via this programme. When the project is finished, many will have a chance to find work in the sunny nation’s rapid growing solar energy sector. Says Mr Thomson, “This initiative is about investing in the long-term future of the renewable energy industry.” These collaborations have built goodwill at the local and state level. Mildura Mayor Cr Mark Eckel says, “What has been striking has been the efforts of Beon Energy Solutions to ensure that locals benefit from this project both in terms of employment opportunities and the provision of local goods and services.” He continues, “ ... more than 90 of these workers were long-term unemployed and faced barriers to employment that Beon assisted them to overcome.” He appreciates the diversity in the workforce and notes that Beon “having employed over 30 Aboriginal workers and people from many different cultural backgrounds ... should be seen as a model for future solar farms wishing to operate in our region.” Victoria’s Energy, Environment and Climate Change Minister Lily D’Ambrosio visited the construction site and was keen on the environmental contribution, saying “The Karadoc Solar Farm is a great example of a renewable energy project delivering cleaner energy, local jobs and economic growth.” << Sphere #46 2019 21 Victorian Energy Minister Lily D’Ambrosio meets with local apprentices at Karadoc Solar Farm.