EDIT: DUE TO COVID-19 ARRANGEMENTS, ALL FACE TO FACE MEETINGS ARE CANCELLED UNTIL RESTRICTIONS ARE LIFTED.
In the interim, we will be holding meetings every Thursday evening using Zoom. We may have guest speakers from time to time, details will be sent out via our e-mail list.
19 March 2020 – How to Report Pollution – Department of Environment and Science – HELD VIA ZOOM
2019
7 February 2019 – Guest speaker – Richard Haward – GPC Tidal Power Pilot Project
21 March 2019 – Feature movie – ‘Accelerate’ by 350.org. If you missed it you can watch the feature length movie here: “Accelerate”
17 April 2019 – At this meeting we read and discussed how Hepburn Shire in Victoria is moving rapidly towards zero emissions. If you would like to look at their Roadmap you can find it here: Zero emissions Roadmap Hepburn Shire
17 May 2019 – Feature documentary Dirty Power – this is a film collaboration between Greenpeace and respected journalist Michael West.
13 June, 2019 – Feature documentary by Al Gore: Truth in Ten – We watched a slightly different version of this at the meeting but this is the publicly available version.
As regional Queenslanders, we want to prepare for the future to ensure that we have strong diverse economies, great quality of life and healthy communities. Energy access is a key factor in looking after vulnerable people, building strong regional businesses and creating job opportunities for everyone.
Forum #2 explores the real world effects of electricity prices, with a range of speakers looking at different aspects of the causes of high electricity prices, the impacts, and what we might be able to do about it as a community.
Date: Thursday 19th September
Time: 9am to 2pm
Venue: CWA hall in Oaka Lane, Gladstone
Cost: FREE but you must reserve a ticket as only 50 places are available.
Uncle Richard Johnson – Welcome to Country and also to speak about high electricity price impacts on the Indigenous community.
Richard Johnson was awarded the prestigious title of Elder of the Year for 2015. As a founding member of a community development organisation focused on youth and health he has played a significant role in establishing the Nhulundu Wooribah Indigenous Health Organisation.
He’s also involved in the Gladstone Indigenous ranger program and other indigenous activist causes.
Tim Buckley – IEEFA – Keynote speaker – Global electricity markets and the Inevitable Technology Driven Transformation Well Underway
Tim Buckley is the Director of Energy Finance Studies, Australasia at the Institute of Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA), Sydney
Tim has 30 years financial markets experience, now providing public interest related financial analysis in the seaborne coal and electricity sectors for IEEFA, studying energy efficiency and renewables across China, Japan and India, and the resulting stranded asset risks in Australia.
Luke Reade – Community Owned Renewable Energy for Queensland – Energetic Communities Association Inc.
Luke founded Energetic Communities Association to build the Community Owned Renewable Energy sector in Queensland and promote a Just Transition, putting the power back into the communities hands. In his day job, he researches and provides policy research and advice on energy costs and financing, energy markets, consumer impacts and affordability, and climate change adaptation and mitigation as it relates to vulnerable and disadvantaged communities and households.
Dave Kearney – Solar for Renters program – Department of Natural Resources, Mines and Energy – Queensland State Government
Dave has ten years’ experience delivering energy policy and programs for the Queensland Government, and is the project manager of the solar for rentals trial.
The solar for rentals trial is a first of its kind program in Queensland that aims to help landlords and tenants share the value of installing solar systems. As part of the trial, the Queensland Government is offering around 1000 rebates of up to $3,500 for landlords to install solar systems on their rental properties in the Bundaberg, Gladstone and Townsville local government areas.
Mark McLachlan – Electricity issues for Rural Communities
Mark is a timber and cattle producer with experience in community and industry organisations.
He’s very passionate about getting a fair deal for his community and is working very hard on issues such as the state of the Gladstone – Monto Road, and getting the Boyne Burnett Inland Rail Trail up and running.
A very successful forum was held on September 20th, and the community is getting together to discuss the next steps.
Below is the original text for this page:
What’s it all about?
For many years Gladstone has been heavily reliant on fossil fuels for our economy, and unfortunately this has to come to an end. We are feeling the pain as we move through a ‘bust’ in our ‘boom/bust’ economy.
But there is hope for a bright future for Gladstone in the renewable energy sector. The technology is available to make Gladstone a world leader in renewables, we just have to make it happen.
The first steps towards this are already being taken with a number of solar projects underway in our region, but we all need to work together if we are to transition to a zero carbon economy.
This forum is the start of a much longer conversation about shifting away from fossil fuels to a sustainable future. We have many interesting speakers lined up and the forum will be a free one day event with food provided.
We do require RSVP’s as places are limited due to catering requirements, and you can get your free tickets on this website (see the RSVP section below).
We hope to have many more of these forums in the future as we all work together to make Gladstone a shining light in the renewable energy sector, and build a sustainable future for our children.
SPEAKERS:
Please note that this list may change – final details will be released just before the forum.
As of 12 August 2018 we have the following speakers confirmed:
Welcome to Country – Uncle Richard
Repower Port Augusta – Gary Rowbottom Port Augusta’s journey from fossil fuel town to a renewables hub
The Australia Institute – Mark Ogge Transition towns in a broader Australian Context
Environmental Defender’s Office – Revel Pointon How to use your legal rights effectively to have your voice heard and defend your land, air and water
Hugh Bridge and Carol Holden A storage solution for clean energy – renewably sourced hydrogen
Gympie Community Solar Association – Murray Keys A simple model for increasing renewable up take in your local community.
Lock the Gate – Vicki Perrin How to empower your local community to create change
