Navigating the Complexities of Renewables Projects: A Smarter Approach to Stakeholder Management

Launching a new renewable energy project – or any major project – can feel like navigating an unpredictable journey. Regulatory landscapes shift, project constraints evolve, and new challenges emerge at every turn. Yet, one constant remains: successful projects hinge on effective stakeholder management.

Capturing stakeholder interactions early in the process and turning that data into actionable insights is critical. But here’s the challenge: most stakeholder management systems either overwhelm you with unnecessary features from the start or lack the flexibility to grow with your project. That’s where having the right tools – and the right approach – makes all the difference.

Start Simple, Scale Smart

In the early stages of a project, your priority is straightforward: gather as much stakeholder data as possible. You don’t need all the bells and whistles yet; you just need a solid foundation. A good stakeholder management system should offer the basics to get you started, with the flexibility to evolve as your project matures.

At each stage – whether you’re securing feasibility approvals, negotiating land agreements, or managing community engagement – a tailored approach to stakeholder data becomes essential. For example:

• During land negotiations, you’ll need robust tools for agreement, obligation and payment management
• Community engagement efforts will require efficient systems to track interactions, manage complaints, and facilitate grants or employment opportunities for impacted communities
• And then there’s the challenge of overlapping roles: John Smith, the landowner, might also lead a local community group. Your system needs to seamlessly organise and report on interactions based on these different roles.

Leveraging Proven Expertise

With nearly three decades of experience in the energy and infrastructure sectors, Mipela understands these challenges. X-Info Stakeholder Management solution is designed to support projects at every stage of their lifecycle. From capturing early-stage interactions to managing complex landowner and regulatory requirements, X-Info Stakeholder Management is designed to align with stakeholder management best practice, whilst still supporting your specific business requirements as your project matures throughout the lifecycle of your project or asset.

Built for the Future

As projects mature, so do their requirements. With X-Info Stakeholder Management, you can add functionality as your project evolves, ensuring your system stays aligned with your goals.

Whether you’re tackling environmental, social, and governance (ESG) responsibilities, negotiating land access contracts, or engaging with your local community, X-Info Stakeholder Management provides that extra level of assurance to your day to day activities, making it easier for you to focus on achieving your objectives.

Let us help you take the stress out of stakeholder management – so you can focus on delivering the projects that shape our energy future.

Gas Pipeline Victoria: Streamlining Right of Way Fault reporting

Gas Pipelines Victoria Pty Ltd (GPV) owns and operates the high pressure Carisbrook to Horsham gas transmission pipeline in Western Victoria. This critical infrastructure supplies natural gas to distributors serving communities in Avoca, Ararat, Stawell, and Horsham.

To enhance its landowner and stakeholder engagement, GPV employs Mipela’s X-Info Lands Management system. Recently, as part of its commitment to continuous improvement, GPV sought to automate and optimise workflows for Right-of-Way (RoW) fault reporting. The company partnered with Mipela to explore how their existing solution could meet this need.

An Efficient Mobile Solution

Following a requirements gathering session, a solution was proposed that would allow field workers to capture fault details using Mipela’s mobile app, X-Info Aware. The app allows field workers to log fault details with ease, capturing descriptions and uploading photos, while automatically recording location and property intersection data in the background.

Once submitted, the fault data becomes instantly accessible to office based teams for review and action. The platform also automatically consolidates this information for monthly reporting, enabling trends to be tracked over time and ensuring compliance with operational standards.

Improving Safety and Compliance

The integration of X-Info Aware has proven invaluable for GPV. Users can quickly log, search, and filter faults within the X-Info Lands Management system to monitor status, analyse safety outcomes, and ensure consistent reporting.

Jason Harris, GPV Project Manager, highlighted the benefits, “The use of X-Info Aware to capture Right-of-Way faults not only saves time but also ensures consistent fault reporting. This supports our compliance with the AS2885 pipeline safety standard and allows us to share meaningful insights with the regulator.”

Expanding Automation for Pipeline Management

Building on the success of the RoW fault reporting workflow, GPV is planning to implement a similar solution to automate data capture for Cathodic Protection (CP) checksheets. This initiative will streamline data collection from test points along the pipeline, further enhancing operational efficiency and safety.

GIS: Powering the Future of Energy with Mipela

Back in 1997 when Hayden McDonald first started Mipela, you could find him and Justin Fielke madly producing maps for some pipeline projects in Papua New Guinea. Geographical Information Systems (GIS) is the backbone of Mipela’s history. Fast forward to today, GIS remains at the heart of Mipela’s expertise, strengthened by a team of exceptionally talented consultants who continue to drive innovation in the field.

So, it was no surprise when a large Australian energy company contacted us asking for some assistance with a GIS feasibility study in 2023. They sought a robust strategy to centralise their GIS services, ensuring seamless support for both their current operations and ambitious future infrastructure projects.

Our collaboration began with a feasibility study, which set the stage for success. The study focused on crafting a governance framework and standardised templates for consultants, coupled with a detailed cost analysis of enterprise solutions tailored to the companies’ data governance, storage, and application needs. To ensure sustainable success, we recommended a phased approach to implementation, emphasising the parallel development of the five key GIS pillars: data, hardware, skills, software, and processes.

Driving Innovation: The GIS Uplift Program

The next phase, aptly named the Uplift Program, identified five essential deliverables:

1. Requirements Traceability Matrix – to ensure alignment with strategic goals
2. Requirements Document – a comprehensive blueprint for GIS success
3. GIS Data Catalogue – a centralised resource for streamlined data access
4. GIS Training Plan – empowering teams with the skills to excel
5. GIS Governance Plan – ensuring accountability and consistency.

These deliverables aimed to create a modern GIS capability, foster high user adoption and satisfaction, and support informed decision-making through precise documentation and architectural designs.

Delivering Tangible Results

Building on this strong foundation, Mipela worked closely with the energy company to achieve key milestones, including:

• Developing data capture standards and updating spatial data repositories
• Crafting a GIS staffing plan with clear position descriptions
• Performing a cost-benefit analysis to guide business investments
• Designing an integration checklist and architectural framework tailored to the companies IT principles.

To ensure every aspect was systematically addressed, Mipela provided a detailed Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) and a high-level schedule. This roadmap offers the energy company a clearly defined path toward achieving GIS maturity, ensuring all five fundamentals evolve cohesively.

A Bright Future

This partnership underscores Mipela’s commitment to delivering innovative solutions that empower organisations to unlock the full potential of GIS. By helping this energy company enhance their operations and prepare for the challenges of tomorrow, we’re not just supporting a project—we’re shaping the future of energy and infrastructure.

With each phase, this energy company is steadily advancing toward a centralised, cutting-edge GIS capability, one that will drive efficiency, innovation, and growth for years to come.

Streamlining Pipeline Patrol and Sightings Management

Ensuring the safety and compliance of Australia’s pipeline infrastructure is critical. Under AS2885.3, all licensed pipelines must be regularly patrolled and inspected, with detailed reports identifying:

• Potential threats from unauthorised external interference, such as third party activities near pipeline assets
• Changes to the pipeline easement, including signage, tree planting, or erosion
• Signs of a Loss of Primary Containment (LoPC) observed during Right of Way (RoW) easement patrols.

The frequency and scope of these patrols are determined by risk assessments, which can vary by pipeline or even by sections of the same pipeline.

To enhance the efficiency and accuracy of its patrol and sightings management, Viva Energy partnered with Mipela to deploy a comprehensive, technology driven solution. Key benefits of this initiative include:

Centralised Data Management

All patrol and sightings data, processes, and documentation are stored in a centralised database. This ensures robust quality assurance, supports system and assurance audits, and enhances governance and decision making with high quality information.

Comprehensive Record-Keeping

The system maintains a detailed history of contacts, agreements, and communications with stakeholders such as:

• Pipeline Inspectors
• Air Patrol Contractors
• Third-Party Contractors
• Landowners and Occupiers
• Authorities and Unauthorised Third Parties.

Automated Reporting

The solution automatically generates and emails critical reports, including:

• Daily and monthly patrol logs
• Pipeline aerial patrol logs
• Incident reports.

This reduces administrative burden and ensures timely dissemination of vital information.

Enhanced Transparency and Accountability

A browser based dashboard tracks all outstanding actions related to patrol and sightings management. Users can monitor progress, receive automated email reminders for due tasks, and apply escalation rules for overdue actions.

Mobile Data Capture and Field Collaboration

Using the X-Info Aware mobile app, field workers can capture information onsite in real time. This data is seamlessly integrated to generate patrol reports, Right of Way permits, and stakeholder engagement records. Authorised users can log into a secure portal to assign tasks, access reports, and view or search data, ensuring full transparency across operations.

The Outcome

By implementing this innovative system, Viva Energy has significantly enhanced the protection and compliance of its twelve transmission pipelines, aligning with AS2885.3 requirements.

This collaboration underscores the potential of technology to streamline complex processes, improve safety outcomes, and maintain compliance in Australia’s critical energy and infrastructure sector.

Welcoming Inner West Council

We are thrilled to announce Inner West Council, a Sydney Metropolitan local government body, as a new client and to support them in safeguarding their critical infrastructure. Their commitment to the residents of Inner West Council remains unwavering, and we are proud to have successfully implemented X-Info Assurance suite seamlessly, in collaboration with the Inner West team.

One of the highlights of working with Inner West Council is to showcase the impressive speed of our X-Info Assurance suite. We’ve had great conversations with clients about efficiency and speed, and we’re excited to share that Inner West Council’s responses are now returned to enquirers in just 0.1 of a minute on average—that’s a mere 6 seconds!

Please join us in extending a warm welcome to Inner West Council as they join our growing community.

But that’s not all… Since partnering in March, we’ve had the opportunity to learn more about the vibrant Inner West Council and its diverse charm:

Cultural Diversity: Over 42.9% of households in the Inner West speak two or more languages, creating a rich tapestry of cultures that influence the local arts, music, and food scenes.

A Unified Council: The Inner West Council was established in 2016 through the merger of Ashfield, Leichhardt, and Marrickville councils, streamlining governance and enhancing community services.

Thriving Arts Scene: The Inner West is a hub for creative industries, attracting artists, musicians, and performers. The area is known for its dynamic arts community and public art projects.

Sustainability Commitment: The Council is dedicated to environmental sustainability, with initiatives like the Inner West Sustainability Hub providing valuable resources to both residents and businesses.

Historic and Eclectic Neighbourhoods: The Inner West boasts a mix of historic suburbs like Balmain and Leichhardt, known for their heritage architecture, alongside eclectic neighbourhoods like Newtown and Marrickville, celebrated for their indie music scenes, unique eateries, and vibrant street art.

We look forward to continuing our partnership and further exploring the unique qualities that make the Inner West such a remarkable place.

Welcome aboard!

Jaci

Epic Energy Powers Forward: Contributing to South Australia’s 2030 Renewable Energy Goals

Epic Energy continues to contribute to renewable energy, supporting South Australia’s ambitious target to achieve 100% of electricity generation from renewable sources by 2030.

It’s exciting to know that the Mannum Solar Farm Stage 2 is now operational and supplying renewable electricity into the SA network. This new phase operates independently of the initial Mannum Solar Farm, boasting its own dedicated connection to the SA Power Network’s distribution network. With an average annual generation of 75 GWh, Stage 2 will produce enough renewable energy to power 15,000 homes! This project is one of many exciting ventures Epic Energy is advancing to feed clean energy back into the National Electricity Grid, reinforcing their commitment to sustainability and a cleaner energy future.

Mipela is proud to support Epic Energy in managing its assets efficiently. Leveraging the power of the X-Info Assurance suite, Mipela ensures lightning-fast responses to any enquiries regarding excavation, digging, and planning activities. Together, we are driving progress and protecting vital infrastructure in the renewable energy sector.

Taking mobile data capture to another level

Mipac is a global leader in operational technology, control systems and engineering services, specialising in metal and mineral process control, automation and performance data solutions around the world.

Earlier this year, Mipac started using Mipela’s X-Info Suite configured to provide a Field Asset Auditing System (FAAS) for field electrical, instrumentation and control system audits at various mine sites around the world. This solution saves costs and time by automating workflows and reporting and provides Mipac users with easy access to a single-source-of-truth for core Field Asset Audited business information. It also allows personnel to seamlessly perform these complex asset site audit processes through an intuitive and easy-to-use interface.

The FAAS also provides automated exception and compliance reporting, as components of the project are completed. The data can also be used to automate the preparation of progressive status reports and progress management in preparation and delivery of the project.

Effective land management across the Gas Pipeline Victoria

The Gas Pipeline Victoria (GPV) is part of the Solstice Energy Group. It owns and operates a 182km high pressure transmission pipeline from Carisbrook to Horsham in south west Victoria. This pipeline is integral to the supply of gas to the regional Victorian towns of Avoca, Ararat, Stawell and Horsham.

GPV operates the pipeline in accordance with a safety case as administered by Energy Safe Victoria under the Gas Industry Act, 1997. It also operates under the Australia Standard AS 2885 – the standard for high pressure pipeline systems.

Later last year, GPV and Mipela commenced a project to provide GPV with a software solution to manages its lands management reporting requirements. A system was established incorporating all land parcels along the pipeline and its easements. This system, X-Info Lands Management, provides GPV users with the ability to add communications or interactions, search land parcel engagement history and provide reports to the regulators from a secure, browser based portal. This information is also spatially represented in the portal in an interactive map activity. Field users can also enter information via a mobile data capture app called X-Info Aware. X-Info Aware is fully integrated into X-Info Lands Management so the data is entered once only. Supporting document such as Notice of Exercise, Easements and other agreements can also be created, issued and managed through the supporting workflows within X-Info Lands Management.

System Administrator and GIS Team Lead, Gillian Bennett said, “X-Info Lands Management will become a crucial part of how we manage this pipeline. As we, as a business, become more familiar with the power of X-Info Lands Management, we will continue to make enhancements to optimise our processes and align with reporting requirements. X-Info Lands Management has the flexibility to be able to support these changes and Mipela has the business processes in place to ensure this happens effectively.”

Mipela also provide a number of solutions to other parts of the Solstice Energy Group and looks forward to this ongoing business partnership.

Ampol joins our Client Community!

We are thrilled to announce the latest addition to our Mipela client group – Ampol! In the latter part of 2023, Ampol embarked on a journey to enhance their responsiveness to BYD enquiries, and we are delighted to share that they have chosen to elevate their processes with the advanced capabilities of the X-Info Assurance suite.

As the largest transport energy distributor and retailer in Australia, Ampol manages a network of assets spanning various regions in New South Wales. What sets Ampol apart is their unique approach to handling BYD inquiries. Employing a meticulous process, they ensure that every inquiry receives an immediate response and that all excavation works undergo assessment by specialised staff before commencement.

We are particularly pleased to highlight the proactive role of Dean Allison, the NSW BYDA Pipeline Supervisor at Ampol. His swift and dedicated support in transitioning to X-Info Assurance suite reflects Ampol’s commitment not only to the wellbeing of their assets but also to the safety of anyone involved in excavation activities.

Join us in extending a warm welcome to Ampol! We look forward to a collaborative and successful partnership, leveraging the capabilities of X-Info Assurance suite to enhance efficiency and safety in their operations.

SA Power Networks – Committed to Ensuring Security

In the fast-paced realm of data privacy and online security, today’s conversations might seem obsolete by next week. Trends evolve swiftly, and the demands on major service providers are continuously scrutinised by both regulatory bodies and consumers alike.

Long time Mipela client, SA Power Network takes a proactive stance in addressing risks, employing dynamic layers of security and swiftly implementing initiatives to stay ahead of the curve.

In the constantly evolving landscape of security, where potential breaches and client privacy concerns arise weekly, it’s comforting seeing a client such as SA Power Network committed to developing an increasingly sophisticated approach to these critical areas.