$250,000 per anum
CPI-indexed from the date Minimbah becomes operational
Renewable energy must generate genuine opportunity for the people and communities who share their land with it. When the Minimbah Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) becomes operational, CleanGen will commit $250,000 per annum — CPI-indexed — to a structured Community Benefit Sharing Plan for the local community and the Worimi First Nations people of the Hunter and Port Stephens region. This is not a one-off gesture. It is a formal, enduring commitment — structured, independently managed, and targeted at those who need it most.
Who Will Benefit?
The Benefit Sharing Plan is designed with a clear focus on those who are often underserved in regional communities. Our target recipients are youth, children and women, supported across four key areas:
Sport - Increasing participation in sport and physical activity for young people, women and girls in regional NSW — building confidence, community and long-term wellbeing.
Education - Improving literacy, learning outcomes and access to educational resources for children, youth and First Nations families.
Safety - Supporting women and families facing domestic violence or unsafe circumstances, through services that provide protection, recovery and resilience.
Mentorship - Supporting women and families facing domestic violence or unsafe circumstances, through services that provide protection, recovery and resilience.
240MW / 200MWh
Worimi First Nations Partnership
CleanGen formally recognises the Worimi people as the Traditional Custodians of this Country. The Benefit Sharing Plan includes a dedicated stream of funding directed to Worimi-led initiatives, ensuring that those with the deepest connection to this land share meaningfully in the benefits Minimbah generates.
This commitment reflects our broader belief: that renewable energy projects must be community assets, not just infrastructure on community land.
Independently Managed
The fund will be independently administered — ensuring decisions are made by and for the community, free from commercial influence. CleanGen will have no role in determining how individual grants are awarded. This independence is central to the plan's integrity. We are currently finalising the governance structure for the fund and will share further details as the project develops.
What Happens Next?
The Minimbah Benefit Sharing Plan activates upon commercial operation of the BESS project. In the meantime, CleanGen welcomes dialogue with the local community and Worimi representatives as we continue to develop the project.
If you have questions about the Benefit Sharing Plan or would like to learn more, please reach out to the CleanGen community team.
