An agreement was signed today by NewGen Power and the Nyungar Elders regarding the construction and operation of the new 320MW gas-fired power station at Kwinana.
NewGen Power is jointly owned by ERM Group and Babcock & Brown. In August this year, NewGen Power won the tender for the next base load power station to be built in Western Australia.
The agreement signed today with the Nyungar Elders will establish a fund to provide for scholarships to Guildford Grammar for indigenous schoolchildren or young people from the Perth Metropolitan area.
Funding of $20,000 per year will be available for at least the next ten years.
Guildford Grammar is hoping recipients of the scholarships will commence studies in either 2006 or 2007.
Mr St Baker said "NewGen Power is proud to work with indigenous communities and has established a similar education fund for the benefit of indigenous school children near its gas-fired Braemar power station in Queensland."
He said that NewGen Power looked forward to a long and rewarding partnership with the Elders and the Guildford Grammar School.
NewGen Power has conducted extensive consultation with indigenous groups over the last few months as part of its obligations under the Heritage Act.