The Minns Labor Government has provided the Aboriginal not-for-profit Twofold Aboriginal Corporation, located 10 kilometres north of Eden, with more than $248,000 to install a new solar energy system at Jigamy Farm, helping take the site off-grid and reduce operating costs.
Jigamy Farm is an important cultural hub on the Sapphire Coast, incorporating a campground, training centre, art studio, cultural learning, and Aboriginal employment opportunities.
The funding was used to install a 62-kilowatt-hour solar energy system with battery storage, significantly reducing energy costs at the site and improving long-term sustainability.
NSW Government support has also enabled Twofold Aboriginal Corporation to work with a business mentor, strengthening the organisation's capacity and ensuring it is well positioned to take advantage of new opportunities following completion of the project.
The Aboriginal Economic Development Package is funded under the Minns Government's Regional Development Trust to support Aboriginal businesses deliver new commercial opportunities and training to improve economic and employment outcomes for Aboriginal people.
For more information, go to: nsw.gov.au/regionaldevelopmenttrust
Minister for Agriculture and Minister for Regional NSW Tara Moriarty said:
"This project is a great example of how targeted support can help Aboriginal organisations take practical steps toward long-term sustainability.
"By going off-grid, Twofold Aboriginal Corporation is reducing their energy costs and reinvesting those savings back into community programs.
"The NSW Government is proud to support projects like Jigamy Farm, which is a hub for culture, training and opportunity, with this investment helping to strengthen that role in supporting local jobs and skills development."
Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Treaty David Harris said:
"This investment is a great example of empowering Aboriginal organisations to lead the way in sustainability and economic growth.
"We know that Aboriginal organisations and people implementing initiatives in partnership with the NSW Government result in better Closing the Gap outcomes.
"Taking Jigamy Farm off-grid is not just an environmental milestone-it's an investment in cultural and economic resilience."
Local Member for Bega Dr Michael Holland MP said:
"This investment is a win for the Twofold Aboriginal Corporation, the local community and everyone who visits Jigamy Farm. By reducing energy costs and moving off-grid, the organisation can reinvest savings into growing tourism, training and employment opportunities on the Sapphire Coast.
"Jigamy Farm is a valued cultural and economic hub, and this project shows how targeted NSW Government support can deliver lasting benefits for Aboriginal organisations while strengthening local jobs, skills and sustainability."
Co-CEO of Twofold Aboriginal Corporation Elvis Amair said:
"The AEDP funding was crucial to the completion of our project and its economic sustainability, the funding has set us on the path towards making our site totally green and lowering our operating costs.
"The next stage of the journey which this funding has allowed us to focus on will be providing glamping accommodation that will see us continue to grow our operations and broaden our services offered to the community."
