Between February and June 2023, The Next Economy explored a range of perspectives among Latrobe Valley community leaders with regards to the energy transition.
The project involved hosting a series of interviews and workshops that engaged 31 community members, including First Nations people and young people, people from the multicultural community, grassroots environment groups, small businesses and the social service sector.
The report makes visible the wealth of experiences, insights and knowledge that exists in communities across the region and demonstrates how the local community can be a valuable partner in working towards good transition outcomes for the Latrobe Valley region.
The main project finding is that community members see a range of potential benefits from the energy transition, beyond job creation and Australia’s national decarbonisation agenda. If managed well, the transition could provide opportunities to transform the systems that underpin society, the regional economy, and people’s relationship with the local environment.
The key themes presented in the report are:
- Socio-economic disadvantage, equity issues and liveability
- Community Participation
- Institutional capacity and good governance
- Environmental protection, remediation and rehabilitation
- First Nations leadership
- New energy development
- Regional economic development
- Workforce development
To find out more, download a copy of the What Next? Community Perspectives on the Energy Transition in the Latrobe Valley.