Last week, Stanwell hosted a “CQ Community of Practice” workshop with a number of Energy proponents in Central Queensland. Capricorn Enterprise CEO Mary Carroll was one of four guest presenters to the group, along with Tom Dixon from Re-Alliance, Sophie George from Capricorn Conservation Council and Flynn O’Hallahan from Queensland Conservation Council. Representatives including from Powerlink, Ark Energy, CQPower, CQROC, CS Energy, Squadron, CS Energy in attendance appreciated the opportunity to have open discussion about both the energy demands, the challenging political landscape and social licence facing the energy sector in Queensland, particularly Central Qld, which has presented disruption to existing and future plans for both energy companies and local communities. Key developments include large-scale wind and solar farms, alongside significant battery storage projects designed to support grid stability and decarbonisation goals, which have been agreed to by government, while local communities are struggling to keep abreast of the facts surrounding a variety of energy proposals.
Central Queensland has been the economic powerhouse of the state and nation for decades, due largely to our vast mineral resources and energy production, hosting some of the country’s largest coal producers, aluminium smelters and power stations, like Stanwell. It is critical that broad community consultation on a variety of wind, solar and battery projects proposed for CQ, involve a co-ordinated approach going forward. Local Governments have been tasked by the State government to create policy positions on Community Benefit and Social Impact Assessments, which has also placed additional responsibility at a local government level to assess proposed energy projects.
Energy generation from coal, gas, wind, solar, batteries, nuclear and hydro all receive scrutiny and are supported at varying levels by local communities and government. Polarizing views across communities, particularly those which are directly affected, along with significant government subsidies and net zero targets is certainly proving to create discord. Balance needs to be returned into the energy debate with a fair playing field, so that energy needs can be met with the least possible disruption to our environment, communities and economic future of the landscapes we value.
