Energy sparks next Regional Forum tomorrow in Yeppoon

Published Sunday, 25 September, 2022 at 12:00 PM

Premier and Minister for the Olympics
The Honourable Annastacia Palaszczuk

Capturing the benefits of Queensland’s renewable energy through a big battery blitz will be on the agenda tomorrow in Yeppoon, at the third Central Queensland Regional Community Forum for 2022.

Leading up to this week’s major energy announcement, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the forum would discuss ideas on sustainably powering the state into the future.

“With regional Queensland already playing a big role in solar energy, large-scale batteries can capture the cheap and clean energy generated by Queenslanders, and best use it to drive down power bills and ease the cost of living,” the Premier said.

“Central Queensland forum members get to be part of this, helping to unlock investment in good clean energy jobs, better services, and helping to protect our great lifestyle in regional Queensland.

“During this third round of forums for 2022, forum members will visit sites that will help support further regional investment, and drive future energy security.”

Digital connectivity will also be discussed in Yeppoon tomorrow.

“Regional Forums are about strengthening our Government’s partnership with regional Queensland and a greater opportunity to influence government decision-making,” the Premier said.

“Forum action plans which address the social and economic priorities of Central Queensland will be tabled tomorrow.

“I thank forum members for all the work they’ve been doing between forums and for the valuable contribution I know they’ll provide during this third round of forums tomorrow.”

Assistant Minister to the Premier for Veterans’ Affairs and COVID Economic Recovery Bart Mellish will join Central Queensland forum members in Yeppoon.

Assistant Minister for Education Brittany Lauga and Member for Rockhampton Barry O’Rourke will once again chair the forum.

Tomorrow’s forum will begin with a site visit to the Tanby Battery Project hosted by Energy Queensland Limited.

Ms Lauga said the forum agenda also included presentations on the Rural Financial Counselling Service in Central Queensland, economic transition to renewables, a traineeship case study and digital connectivity.

“The second-round forum discussions centred around future energy and workforce opportunities, attracting and retaining a skilled workforce and regional connectivity across industries,” Ms Lauga said.

“Discussions across all forum rounds have provided the foundations for the development of the Central Queensland forum action plan.”

Mr O’Rourke said over the past two months, forum members had been working to finalise their forum action plan.

“In between forums, members have been collaborating on some of the initiatives outlined in their forum action plan,” Mr O’Rourke said.

“The third forum for 2022 will allow working groups to provide an update on their work to bring the forum action plan to life in partnership with the Queensland Government.”

The Central Queensland forum is one of seven to be held in regional centres across Queensland tomorrow, with others taking place in Mackay-Isaac-Whitsunday, Far North Queensland, Darling Downs-South West, North-North West Queensland, Wide Bay-Burnett-Fraser Coast and Western Queensland.

The Regional Community Forums are part of the Queensland Government’s Advancing Queensland’s Regions strategy, supported by the Office for Rural and Regional Queensland.

For more information: Advancing Queensland’s Regions

ENDS

Media contact – Andrew Churchill 0472 645 871