Work category: Reports

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Uralla’s Renewable Energy Strategic Action Plan is here

Two years of listening, testing and co-design have led to this: a practical plan for how NSW’s Uralla Shire can manage large-scale renewable energy development on its own terms – protecting what the community values while sharing the benefits of the transition fairly. 

This is not a plan for or against renewable energy. It’s a plan to make sure development happens with the community, not to the community. Our residents have been clear: Uralla’s character, farmland and way of life must be protected, and any development must deliver lasting value for our Shire.

Mayor Robert Bell

When regions are faced with large-scale renewable energy developments, local leaders face a choice: drive the change or get swept up in it. Uralla Shire Council chose to lead, successfully applying for transition support from The Next Economy under the Striking a New Deal project*. 

That move laid the groundwork for the community-led Renewable Energy Strategic Action Plan, endorsed by Council after a lengthy feedback process with community. 

Here we look behind the scenes at how this journey unfolded, what we learned from our experiences working with the Uralla community and what this means for the transition more generally. 

Access the Plan | Read Council’s media release   

A Shire at the centre of the transition 

Uralla Shire sits inside the New England Renewable Energy Zone (REZ) – one of the areas key to decarbonising Australia’s energy system. Solar, batteries and transmission projects are already shaping the region. With multiple wind projects planned, Uralla will be the centre of construction activity. It is already gearing up to host the largest share of temporary construction workers within the REZ.  

Uralla’s location within a REZ brings real opportunity: investment, jobs, training, building lasting infrastructure. But also, real pressure: from housing, water, roads and services, through to the very social fabric of Uralla that locals are proud of. 

While Uralla Shire Council can’t make the decision on whether these projects go ahead – that sits with the state and developers –they can, and have, worked with the local community to decide how the Shire prepares, what it asks for, and what ‘good’ looks like in its own patch. 

The role of The Next Economy 

Together, The Next Economy and Council worked with members of the Uralla community to understand what it takes to proactively shape the roll-out and impacts of the New England REZ, not just respond to them. 

The process included interviews, workshops, school sessions and surveys with more than 150 locals between December 2024 and July 2025. Landholders, business owners, young people and community leaders across the Shire were engaged. 

When people are involved early, it’s easier to identify concerns, and ensure new development strengthens what the community values. 

Saideh Kent, project lead, The Next Economy

Local insights were brought together with national best practice and expert input to build a plan that is grounded in the local context and priorities, and not a cookie cutter model brought in. The result is a renewable energy strategic action plan that:  

  • Sets out what good development looks like, in Uralla’s own terms 
  • Gives Council a clear, evidence-based basis for its conversations with government and industry 
  • Identifies where the Shire needs to act now to stay ahead of construction pressure, including on housing, water, roads, services and nature 
  • Points to how renewable energy investment can leave a genuine legacy, not just short-term disruption. 

Real-time results

Already, the work has brought real-time results, with Council:  

  • Identifying potential sites suitable for housing development and seeking community feedback
  • Collaborating with other councils and EnergyCo to coordinate infrastructure investment  
  • Working with Armidale Regional Council to improve water supplies and drought proof townships 
  • Partnering with the University of Newcastle to set up a recycling hub for solar panels. 

From one Council’s experience to a national conversation 

There’s no shortage of toolkits, guides and case studies for renewable energy development. What’s often missing is something that pulls it altogether and puts it into practice – a clear, tested picture of what success can look like when a regional community leads its own transition.  

Project lead Saideh Kent, is collaborating with colleagues at Uralla Shire Council, to identify the practical, place-based insights for what good renewable development requires – and what makes it possible – to share with other regional councils. Stay tuned. 

Why this matters beyond Uralla 

The energy transition is one of the biggest drivers of economic change across regional Australia right now. It is more than just the construction of poles and wires, it is a major national investment in a new industry located in regions that have not been part of the system before, and with that comes broader social, economic and environmental considerations and impacts.  

Left unmanaged, it can strain the things communities value most and rely on for their livelihoods and way of life. However, if managed well, with community at the centre and positioned as a strategic partner to development, the energy transition can not only move at a scale and pace that is required but can help to build resilient and thriving regions whose economies are working better for local people and their place.  

This ground-up, place-based approach to regional economic development and managing local economic change, is underpinned by The Next Economy’s broader work on macro-economic systems change and wellbeing economies – driving an economy that works for people and the planet, not the other way around.  

The work in Uralla is a real-world example of that thinking in practice – demonstrating what good development looks like for Uralla Shire, how the community can shape local economic transitions (and the economy), and the imperative for government and industry to get behind them when they do.  

*The Next Economy works with government, industry and community across Australia’s regions to shape a transition that strengthens – rather than undermines – local identity, resilience and shared prosperity. Striking a New Deal (SaND) is a national collaboration between The Next Economy, RE-Alliance, the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal (FRRR), Projects JSA and host councils including Uralla Shire. 

Read earlier stories

Community insights from Uralla

Striking a New Deal for Uralla Shire

Getting a better deal for regions hosting renewables

Read more about what came across during community engagement via Council’s website: A shire-wide conversation: community insights for Uralla Shire’s energy future.

South West Queensland launches economic blueprint for future

Six councils spanning one of Queensland’s most distinctive outback regions have launched a Future Economy Strategy: a practical, community-led plan to diversify local economies and manage change on their own terms. 

Developed by the South West Queensland Regional Organisation of Councils (SWQROC) in partnership with economic development agency The Next Economy (TNE), the Strategy covers the Maranoa, Balonne, Murweh, Quilpie, Paroo and Bulloo local government areas – a vast region defined by deep community resilience, extreme weather events and a changing agriculture and gas sector. 

The Strategy was shaped by more than 77 contributors – council staff, producers, First Nations organisations, local businesses and community members – and identifies seven opportunity areas tailored to how the South West Queensland economy actually works. 

View from the Cunnamulla hot spring. Credit: The Next Economy

From converting waste to energy at the Roma saleyards, to green ammonia feasibility in Balonne to stabilise fertiliser costs, to the Cunnamulla Aboriginal Corporation for Health coordinating 33 visiting services for remote residents – the plan is grounded in what is already working and what communities say needs to come next. 

“This region has capable communities that pride themselves on practical problem solving.” Simone Talbot, SWQROC Executive Officer, says. “Global changes such as geopolitics, weather extremes and the cost of living are prompting us to consider what does ‘transition’ mean for our region. Our vast distances mean we are at the very limits of energy infrastructure and are heavily reliant on road transport and so we need to think differently about future opportunities and how we participate in a future economy.”   

The Strategy includes a tailored roadmap for each of the six councils, scaled to real staff and budget constraints. In Quilpie, that means exploring microgrids and back-freight opportunities to cut costs. In Murweh, it means expanding on tourism assets like the Cosmos Centre and WWII heritage sites. In Maranoa, it means managing the coexistence of wind, gas and agriculture through early community engagement on the Bottle Tree Energy Park. 

“What struck us most was how much is already happening here,” says Saideh Kent, project lead at The Next Economy. “These communities are progressing local solutions that suit their context. Our job was to listen carefully about their experience of transition and change, connect the dots, and build a plan that reflects the unique assets of South West Queensland and reflects what the community actually wants and needs. Not what someone from outside thinks transition should look like.” 

The publication of the Future Economy Strategy follows a significant milestone earlier this year, when a delegation of SWQROC mayors travelled to Canberra to present key messages directly to federal politicians and agencies. There, they made the case for coordinated investment in local solutions to housing, digital connectivity, freight infrastructure and workforce transition for fossil-fuel-exposed regions. 

“We went to Canberra because we wanted decision-makers to hear directly from us, to understand our context and consider an approach to change that is appropriate to our economic, social and climatic environment,” Simone says, adding: “This region has always contributed to the national economy. Now we’re asking for support to back our own solutions so we can keep contributing into the future.” 

Where to from here 

SWQROC will now move into implementation, with councils progressing priority actions from their individual roadmaps while coordinating on regional challenges too large for any single council to tackle alone. This includes on waste recovery, energy advocacy, freight and logistics, housing and workforce initiatives. 

The Strategy also sets out clear asks of industry, the Queensland Government and the Federal Government: from proactive planning for gas expansion and contraction and transparent local procurement, to rural grid upgrades, regional waste solutions, improved telecommunications and co-investment in worker housing. 

“This region is already managing change and transition, adopting innovative approaches that build on their local strengths,” Saideh says. “This Strategy brings together and builds on this ingenuity looking at the opportunities to create a resilient future.” 

The South West Queensland Future Economy Strategy is available here:

Download South West Queensland Future Economy Strategy

Read more:

The mechanism critical for achieving a just transition

Earlier this year, The Next Economy made a submission on how a Just Transition Mechanism could be operationalised to the United Arab Emirates Just Transition Work Programme at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

Here we explain what a Just Transition Mechanism is, why it’s needed and how we think it can be made a reality.

A Just Transition Mechanism and why we need it

The world has entered the implementation phase of the transition to net zero. While countries face different challenges, all are grappling with the multiple technical, social and economic complexities of one of the biggest transformations of the global economy since the Second World War. While national and international bodies can set climate targets, for these to be properly realised, additional support is needed to translate ambition into action in ways that will generate rapid, positive and lasting transition outcomes.

Enter the Just Transition Mechanism, a key initiative proposed under the United Arab Emirates Just Transition Work Programme at the UNFCCC. It’s intended to ensure that it’s someone’s job to guide, support and sustain transition activities to address the climate crisis while protecting and even enhancing the wellbeing of people and the environment.

At The Next Economy, we think this is critical. It is beyond the capacity of individual nations to manage the transition alone. If countries are to have any chance of achieving their climate goals, the focus needs to shift from setting targets to supporting countries in figuring out how to transform their economies to accelerate the transition to net-zero emissions in ways that reduce harm and maximise benefits.

Without this support, not only will the world fail to reduce emissions to the extent needed to tackle the climate crisis, but transition efforts may exacerbate inequality and poverty.

If designed well, the Just Transition Mechanism could facilitate the integration of just transition principles and approaches across different levels of government and global agencies, each responsible for different aspects of the transition. Not only would this help generate broader acceptance of the transition, but it would also increase the confidence of governments and investors in taking meaningful climate action at all levels.

How a Just Transition Mechanism can be operationalised

While bodies already exist both within and outside the UNFCCC to support transition efforts, more needs to be done to build the capacity of those needing support to know what they need and how to manage all elements of the transition to a decarbonised economy in a just and equitable way, and to ensure that those offering expertise and resources incorporate justice principles and a rights-based framework to their programs.

The Just Transition Mechanism can meet this challenge by ensuring that climate mitigation and adaptation efforts are managed in a just and equitable way and improve social, economic and environmental outcomes by:

  • Mapping existing resources, funds, expertise and institutions.
  • Undertaking assessments to ascertain what countries, regions, economic sectors and key actors need to support just transition efforts.
  • Matchmaking to deploy technical and financial assistance in a responsive and appropriate manner.
  • Synthesising, sharing and generating knowledge.
  • Developing measurement, monitoring and reporting frameworks to support accountability.

Turning to the design of the mechanism, the priority areas to be worked out are:

  • Scope, including whether it’s holistic and broad enough to consider justice and equity issues related to mitigation and adaptation efforts across all economic sectors, and able to offer practical and tangible support to integrate just transition considerations into existing plans and programs.
  • Governance structure and work plan, including whether it’s overseen by a committee or advisory board,secretariat, host institutions or a pool of experts.
  • Staffing, including ensuring that it is sufficiently resourced by staff with the expertise to direct resources and effectively liaise with institutions and those requiring support.
  • Funding, including whether a new Just Transition Fund is needed to channel new grant-based and highly concessional finance. 

Empowering Hay: A community-led transition roadmap

The Hay Region Economic Transition Roadmap demonstrate how regional Australian communities can shape their own economic futures. The Next Economy has been proud to work with the Hay Shire Council and the local community to develop a sequenced, practical pathway for economic growth. 

Why Hay is leading the way 

Located at a strategic intersection of renewable energy zones and key transport routes, Hay is acting early to ensure change happens with the community, not to it. The Roadmap focuses on: 

  • Local leadership: Building on rural enterprise and natural resources. 
  • Strategic levers: Seven accelerator actions to increase regional capacity, including dedicated coordinators for housing and workforce development. 
  • Shared value: Creating conditions for industry and government to align with community-defined priorities. 

This project demonstrates what is possible when local insights are backed by strong collaboration. Hay is ready, the momentum is real, and the invitation is open for collaborators to join us in unlocking the full impact of this vision. 

Read the full report

Walking Together: Building Indigenous Business in Northern Australia

A new report by Esparq Ventures, co-authored with The Next Economy

Esparq Ventures is working with Indigenous entrepreneurs across northern Australia to grow successful businesses grounded in culture, community and self-determination. 

Walking Together shares early insights from this work. It highlights the challenges and opportunities facing Indigenous businesses, and how Esparq’s model is helping to grow a more connected, resilient and thriving Indigenous business ecosystem. 

Co-authored with The Next Economy, the report features stories from the ground, reflections from the team, and lessons to inform policy, funding and systems change. It also captures the spirit of Esparq’s approach – walking alongside communities and backing their vision for the future. 

Read the full report here

Find out more in our Q+A with the CEO of Esparq Ventures: Walking Together: A conversation with Darryl French-Majid

Community insights for Uralla Shire’s energy future 

Between December 2024 and June 2025, The Next Economy and Uralla Shire Council engaged more than 150 residents through workshops, interviews and surveys. People shared what matters most to them, and what ‘good development’ should look like for their Shire in NSW’s New England region, in light of the large-scale renewable energy development planned. 

This has culminated in an Insights Paper: a summary of what we heard and what it means for Uralla’s energy future. 

What we heard 

Residents’ perspectives grouped under six overarching themes, ranging from nature and land use to healthcare. Across these, the following came through clearly: 

  • There is support for a transition that is transparent, coordinated and grounded in local values. 
  • People need early, honest communication and real opportunities to participate in decisions. 
  • The renewables opportunity should be used as an opportunity for investment in lasting infrastructure and services that keep pace with growth. 
  • It is important to people that farmland, biodiversity and the rural character of the Shire be protected. 
  • Affordable housing and inclusive growth should be a priority, especially to maintain community cohesion as workers and new residents arrive. 
  • Stable jobs and training pathways linked to these developments were seen by many as a way to keep and attract young people in the area. 
  • A shared desire to preserve community cohesion and heritage so that change enhances, more than erodes, what makes Uralla special. 
     
Inputs gathered from just one of TNE's Uralla community workshops.

Read more about what came across during community engagement via Council’s website: A shire-wide conversation: community insights for Uralla Shire’s energy future.

Read previous stories and updates:  

What happens next?

These insights inform Uralla Shire Council’s Renewable Energy Strategic Plan, due out at the end of 2025. The plan sets out strategies and actions to address challenges and realise opportunities, so that benefits are shared fairly and value endures. 

What is the Striking a New Deal (SaND) project? 

SaND supports regional communities as they navigate renewable energy development in their area. Together with Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal, RE-Alliance and Projects JSA, The Next Economy supports a peer-to-peer network of regional leaders sharing insights with government and industry. Read more about the partnership: Driving better community outcomes from renewable projects

SaND Uralla Community Insights Report October 2025Download

The Economy We Could Have: new paper out now

Australia’s economy looks strong on the surface, but behind the averages lie deep divides in housing, work, health and opportunity. Our new paper, The Economy We Could Have, asks what our economy is really designed to do, who it is working for, and how it can support people’s wellbeing.

Australia is at a pivotal moment. While headline statistics suggest strong performance, looking under the bonnet of these numbers reveals widening divides in housing, health, income, and opportunity. Rising inequality and climate disruption demand a closer look at our economic system: what is it designed to do – and who benefits?

The Economy We Could Have explores how Australia’s economic story has shifted over the decades, the divides created along the way, and the alternatives already being built. It sets out practical steps for governments, enterprises and communities to move beyond isolated “Lego wins” and instead embed a wellbeing economy – one that puts dignity, fairness, connection and ecological care at its centre.  

As lead author, Katherine Trebeck, puts it: 

Transformational change is possible. Australia has done it before – from Medicare to minimum wages – and we can do it again.  

The challenge

The paper traces Australia’s shift from predistribution – fair wages and public investment – to a model marked by precariousness, asset accumulation, and financial advantage for a few. It also highlights how system-compliant fixes and short-term crisis responses can stall deeper progress.

One in seven Australians live in poverty. Many face insecure work, unaffordable homes and stretched services that respond to crisis rather than prevent it. These outcomes are not inevitable. They are the result of decisions – shaped by values and power – that have concentrated advantage for some and shifted risks onto others. 

The alternatives

The good news that is change is possible. The economy is a human-made system, and it can be redesigned. Across the country, communities are already showing what that momentum for change is growing. Australians are increasingly dissatisfied with the status quo and open to rethinking economic priorities. 

One promising framework is the wellbeing economy, which according to the Wellbeing Economy Alliance can deliver the following needs: 

Nature, connection, dignity, fairness, participation

There are plenty of examples of these goals already being delivered in practice:

Earthworker Cooperative (Latrobe Valley, VIC)Australia’s first worker-owned factory, producing solar hot water systems to serve its worker-owners. 
Food Connect Shed (Brisbane, QLD): A cooperative food enterprise owned by 500+ ‘careholders’, rooted in equity and regeneration. 
Marlinja Power Project (NT): Community-installed solar panels and battery storage enabling near energy self-sufficiency – an example of climate resilience. 

Governments are beginning to respond. The Federal Government’s Measuring What Matters statement is expanding how national success is defined, incorporating indicators for health, sustainability, and social cohesion. In Victoria, the Early Intervention Investment Framework is embedding preventative health and social approaches into budget decisions, valuing long-term wellbeing over short-term fixes.

Australia’s future depends on whether we can move beyond piecemeal reforms to embrace systemic change. By learning from community-led initiatives and adopting frameworks like the wellbeing economy, we can build a more inclusive, resilient, and caring society – one that works for everyone. 

Read the full report here:

DOWNLOAD REPORT

Building Hay’s future together: early insights from the economic transition roadmap

The Next Economy and Hay Shire Council have been working side by side with the local community to better understand how Hay’s economy works today and what it will take to secure a stronger future. Over the past year, more than 240 residents, businesses and stakeholders have shared their perspectives through workshops, interviews and conversations. 

The result is the newly published Early Insights Paper, which explores Hay’s unique economy, the challenges it faces, and the opportunities already emerging. 

A deeply connected local economy

What makes Hay distinctive is not just its agricultural base or strategic location on trade and tourism routes, but the way economic and social life is deeply interconnected. From local producers sharing transport runs, to volunteers stepping in where services are scarce, Hay’s resilience depends on people and relationships as much as dollars and cents. 

Turning pressure into opportunity

The final Roadmap will highlight clear areas where focused action can turn pressure into opportunity. Housing, for example, has emerged as one of the most urgent challenges. Council and partners are already exploring innovative approaches such as transitioning worker accommodation into permanent housing – a practical step that can help meet short-term needs while leaving a lasting benefit for the region. 

Grounded in local identity

Alison McLean, Executive Manager for Economic Development and Tourism at Hay Shire Council, puts it simply:  

Without this groundwork, there’s a risk of defaulting to what everyone else does. We are not Wagga, we are not Griffith – we have our very own unique economy, threats and opportunities.

From insights to action 

This paper is an important milestone, but it is also part of a broader process of engagement and real-time action being taken to manage change across the region. Over the coming months, Council and The Next Economy will continue to work with the community to refine priorities, test solutions and activate partnerships across housing, primary production innovation, workforce development and industry diversification. 

You can read the paper here:

READ THE PAPER

Read the local media release for an expanded summary here:

READ THE MEDIA RELEASE

Time to strike a good deal for communities hosting renewables 

4 August 2025: As Australia undergoes the shift to renewables, rural and regional communities are demonstrating new ways of securing a good deal from large-scale solar, wind and battery projects.  

This is the conclusion of a new report – Striking a New Deal for Renewables in Regions – authored by FRRR and Projects JSA, as part of the Striking a New Deal collaboration. It comes ahead of a first-of-its-kind national gathering of local government and regional development leaders at a Summit hosted by RE-Alliance in Newcastle this week. 

The report draws on insights from leaders in regions with significant renewable energy investments around Australia and outlines the common risks and opportunities facing their communities.  

While the majority of Australians living in regional communities generally support the nation’s shift to renewable energy (CSIRO, FCA, Porter Novelli), the report clearly shows that the first phase of this change has been challenging.  

Leaders have been grappling with significant uncertainty about what will actually be built and when; the local risks and opportunities of these developments for their economy, environment and community; and limited local agency to influence the development process. 

With the need to replace aging coal-fired power stations, state and federal governments have so far been ‘building the plane while flying it’. However, with clearer policies and more projects reaching the approval stage, solutions to common issues have emerged, creating more opportunities for regions to achieve meaningful and lasting benefits from investments. 

Sarah Matthee, Climate Solutions Portfolio Lead at FRRR, noted, “Communities simply want a good deal in return for hosting this new energy infrastructure. They want certainty, more clarity on the opportunities and risks of these projects, more resourcing and more agency in the decisions being made that will impact their regions for decades to come.” 

Lead author, Jack Archer, added, “Development at this scale will never be universally popular, but if locals can see they have been heard and clearly understand how their community will benefit, there can be enduring support for the energy shift in regions across Australia.” 

The report recommends government and industry collaborate to produce risk and opportunity accounts, to act as living ledgers, to make the terms of the local deal clearer. Currently information is fragmented and buried in planning documents, and with misinformation on social media and in local networks, it’s difficult for locals to understand what’s going to happen, if they will be better off and what issues need further work as development progresses. 

The report also recommends combining the transparency of these new accounts with upgrades to community services and housing, ongoing input from local leaders in the development process and genuine security that benefits will be delivered.  

“This set of actions is the key to unlocking the local social licence governments and industry are seeking. It’s a practical approach that can be implemented quickly and it will change the game,” Jack Archer said.  

To read more, access the report at frrr.org.au/reports/insights-reports/striking-a-new-deal. 

About the Striking a New Deal collaboration

Not-for-profit organisations the Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal, RE Alliance and The Next Economy, and consultancy Projects JSA are working collaboratively on the Striking a New Deal project to support regional communities at the frontline of the energy transition. Striking a New Deal has worked with community leaders across Australia to share insights and supports initiatives that seek to find a better way to develop renewables in regions. 

About FRRR 
FRRR (Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal) is the only national foundation specifically focussed on ensuring the social and economic strength of Australia’s remote, rural and regional communities. FRRR’s unique model of support is more than money – it connects common purposes and investment from government, business and philanthropy with the genuine needs of rural people and places.   

About RE-Alliance 
The Australian Renewable Energy Alliance, or RE-Alliance, is an independent not-for-profit working to secure a responsible and rapid shift to renewable energy that actively contributes to the strength and resilience of rural and regional Australia. 

About The Next Economy 
The Next Economy, TNE is a not-for-profit economic development agency, working across all economic sectors to support communities manage the transition to a climate-safe, socially just and regenerative economy.   

About Projects JSA 
Projects JSA – Regional Advisory, led by Jack Archer, provides specialised advice on regional development issues in Australia. Jack is one of Australia’s foremost experts on regional development, experienced in policy, strategy, stakeholder consultation and facilitation, leveraging extensive networks and detailed knowledge of each region in Australia. 

Powering the transition while championing diversity

March 5 2025: Reimagining Diversity in Clean Energy Careers launches today. 

The rapid expansion of clean energy development is driving demand for hundreds of thousands of workers with diverse skills but right now many of those roles remain unfilled. 

This shortfall presents an opportunity. The Next Economy’s Reimagining Diversity in Clean Energy Careers report shows that by removing barriers to workforce participation for people from marginalised groups and communities, Australia can achieve a faster and fairer energy transition.  

It finds that fostering greater diversity and inclusion in the clean energy workforce can improve outcomes for individuals and communities, all while generating benefits for businesses and regional economies and helping Australia meet its renewable energy targets.  

Fostering greater diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in the workforce can improve outcomes for individuals and communities, as well as generate benefits for businesses and the economy.

The task is significant, but there are practical actions that can be taken to remove barriers to participation and build a workforce that delivers a faster, fairer and more inclusive transition to net zero.  

The report outlines several opportunity areas to help drive this change:    

  1. Foster a thriving workforce development ecosystem: connecting diverse stakeholders, creating the conditions for collaboration while supporting marginalised individuals and regional economies 
  1. Strengthen inclusive career development pathways: providing equitable access and opportunities for all learners and workers 
  1. Create supportive and inclusive workplaces: ensuring employees from diverse backgrounds feel welcome, valued and supported at work 

The report shows these opportunity areas work best when underpinned by a core principle of putting people at the centre of all workforce development efforts.  

Stakeholders from different sectors across Gladstone have set directions for their future and are working together to manage the net zero transition. Pictured here is a representative of the Queensland Department of State Development and Infrastructure, explaining the history of Gladstone’s industrial transitions to visiting philanthropists and investors. Source: The Next Economy / William Debois.

Developed through research, interviews and workshops and drawing on insights from The Next Economy’s work with regional communities at the frontline of the energy transition, the Reimagining Diversity in Clean Energy Careers report is a resource to support stakeholders take a broader view of what diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace can look like. It highlights actions that leads to workforce development in the clean energy sector that benefit everyone.  

To find out more, read the report here and share it among your networks.

Download Report


Curious to learn more about the report? We’ll be hosting a briefing session in April 2025. Register your interest to be notified of upcoming dates by filling out this form:

Launching the Mount Isa Future Ready Economy Roadmap

The Next Economy, together with Mount Isa City Council and Climate-KIC Australia, is proud to launch the Mount Isa Future Ready Economy Roadmap.  

Mount Isa, like many other industrial regions, is at the crossroads of major economic change. The region has a rich asset base, including the North West Minerals Province, but faces the imminent closure of the Mount Isa Mine’s underground copper mine operations and copper concentrator.  

This closure will impact approximately 1,200 workers from mid-2025 and the future of the local copper industry, a change that needs to be managed alongside increasing demand for critical minerals, affordable and reliable energy generation and storage options, and innovative logistics solutions. Global trade uncertainty and climate impacts further complicate this picture. 

Whether Mount Isa successfully navigates these changes will be critical to the success of Australia’s net zero ambitions, and global decarbonisation goals. 

The Mount Isa Future Ready Economy Roadmap provides a clear and ambitious vision for the future of Mount Isa against this backdrop of regional change, global uncertainty, and new opportunities.  

In this future, Mount Isa thrives. The regional economy enables Australia’s net zero transformation, contributing to the next generation of clean energy and critical minerals exports and processing . Local industry and the community lead innovative solutions to long-standing and emerging challenges, benefiting from a focus on circular economy approaches, decarbonisation, environmental sustainability and regeneration, and social wellbeing.  

This vision is underpinned by the application of the Future Ready Economy Framework. This Framework has been designed by The Next Economy and Climate-KIC to assist decision-makers in regions like Mount Isa to assess economic opportunities against six key dimensions of positive and resilient development. 

Along with regional stakeholder engagements and expert input, the Framework has informed the development of future ready development pathways, strategies and potential actions for Mount Isa’s five key economic sectors—energy, mining, transport, agriculture and tourism—and the foundations of a thriving community. 

By adopting a future ready lens to regional economic development, Mount Isa is ensuring that today’s planning and investment decisions position the region for long-term success. 

With the right planning and investment from key partners, including the Queensland Government and Australian Government, and industry, Mount Isa can pursue these pathways and become a global player in a decarbonising world. 

To find out more, download the Mount Isa Future Ready Economy Roadmap.

Mount Isa has a proud history of innovation and mining excellence which can continue to thrive with the right investment and collaboration between industry, government and the community. Photo: Chris Grose.

What next? Community perspectives on Latrobe Valley’s energy transition

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.

Download Here

Gladstone’s 10-year Economic Transition Roadmap

Gladstone Regional Council launched its 10-year economic transition roadmap to support and guide Queensland’s industrial capital to becoming a renewable energy superpower in 2022.

The roadmap sees the region in prime position to respond to once-in-a-generation changes in the energy sector.

The Next Economy collaborated with Gladstone Regional Council to develop the detailed roadmap, which is the result of two years of research and extensive engagement involving 220 community, government and industry stakeholders. This included industry representatives, First Nations people, energy workers, environment groups and education and training institutions.

The Gladstone Region Economic Transition Roadmap guides Council on what is required to adapt to a rapidly changing energy sector and support a positive economic transition for its community over the next 10 years. Key themes of the roadmap include:

  • Energy security and affordability
  • Establishing a viable hydrogen industry
  • Diversifying the economy
  • Supporting and developing the local workforce
  • Capturing the community benefits
  • Protecting land and water resources.
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Consultation and feedback: Draft Hay and Carrathool Regional Drought Resilience Plan

The Hay and Carrathool Regional Drought Resilience Plan (‘The Plan’) is a strategic framework shaping the future of the region through 2035. It is due for official release later this year.

This summary paper outlines the key elements of The Plan we are currently seeking feedback on, including our 2035 vision, resilience strategies, and priority actions. 

The summary paper can be downloaded in PDF format below:

The Hay and Carrathool Regional Drought Resilience Plan: Summary Consultation Paper
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What Regions Need on the Path to Net Zero

Australia speaks in landmark report 

A major new report from The Next Economy released today has found that regional Australia is undergoing an economic transformation, with historical coal and gas heartlands like Central Queensland, The Hunter Valley and the Latrobe Valley in pole position to capitalise on the global shift to net zero emissions – with appropriate Federal Government leadership, investment and support.

For ‘What regions need on the path to net zero’, The Next Economy engaged with over 500 people and organisations across regional Queensland, NSW, Victoria, WA and the NT to assess the support communities with close ties to fossil fuels need to manage the inevitable and accelerating transition to net zero emissions.

Participants included representatives of government, the energy sector, diverse industries, unions, economic development agencies, social services, universities and training institutions, Traditional Owners and First Nations groups, community members and environment organisations.

The research revealed a high level of consensus on a key theme – greater leadership is needed from the Federal Government, revolving around three key calls to action:

  1. An honest conversation: The Federal Government must be open and honest about what the changing energy system means for regional Australia.
  2. A clear, well resourced plan: The Federal Government needs to put in place the appropriate targets, policies and regulatory frameworks to guide investment, and to ensure that regional workers and communities are not left behind – such as a national transition authority.
  3. A strong democracy: The Federal Government must put in place measures to improve the health of our democracy – such as protection of public servants and decision-making from political interference, banning political donations, and a national corruption watchdog.

Dr Amanda Cahill, CEO of The Next Economy, said “The discussion about energy futures in regional Australia has changed dramatically since the federal election in 2019.

“When we started our consultations two and a half years ago, most people were questioning the whole concept of the energy transition. Now people see that things are changing quickly, with early closure announcements for coal plants, our trading partners increasing their climate ambitions and the rapid expansion of renewable energy projects across the country. They want to see a clear plan and support so they can manage these changes.

“If we want to take advantage of the wide range of new economic opportunities available – in renewable energy generation and storage, the mining and processing of critical minerals needed for renewable energy, and the manufacturing of projects like green hydrogen, batteries, renewable energy components, biofuels and other products –  we need to act now.

“Business has been leading the way in terms of investing in the new industries we need to develop to reduce our dependence on coal and gas export revenue. But it’s not enough and even industry players are now calling on the Federal Government for greater policy certainty and new regulatory frameworks to ensure that development is done well and actually benefits regions over the long term.”

“The new federal government has a lot of work to do”, Dr Cahill said. “I hope it shows the leadership and vision to grasp this once-in-a-generation opportunity, and to step up to the task of supporting our regions as the energy system changes.”

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To view our presentation of the report, click below to watch our webinar on Wednesday, 11 May where we were joined by Professor John Wiseman and Dr Gareth Edwards, followed by a Q&A session with participants.

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Transforming Queensland: The Case for a Transition Authority

The Queensland economy is being transformed as the world embraces the challenge to phase out fossil fuels and rapidly expand renewable energy generation in pursuit of net zero emissions goals. As one of the world’s biggest exporters of coal and gas, and with an ongoing reliance on coal fired electricity generation, these changes pose huge risks to the Queensland economy. They also present us with massive economic opportunities, given the state’s abundance of solar, wind and mineral resources.

The experiences of other regions and countries demonstrates that change can be managed well, but it requires a high degree of leadership, resourcing and coordination from government. Transition authorities have proven a successful vehicle to support governments in this task by bringing together stakeholders from across government, industry and the community to plan and coordinate efforts to proactively manage the phase out of fossil fuels and expansion of renewable energy.

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Central Queensland Energy Futures Summit

By Dr Emma Whittlesea

The Central Queensland Energy Futures Summit was a gathering of over 140 stakeholders, in Gladstone in April 2021, representing local and state government, energy companies and regulators, industrial sectors, unions, education and training institutions, Traditional Owners and environmental groups.

Amanda Cahill speaks at the Energy Future Summit
Amanda Cahill speaks at the summit

The Summit was hosted by The Next Economy and would not have been possible without the generous support of the sponsors Stanwell, CleanCo, Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF), CQUniversity and the Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC).

This report by The Next Economy summarises the activities over the two days and the key messages that came out of audience participation.

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What Queensland Wants Report

Regional Perspectives on Building a Stronger Economy

By Dr Amanda Cahill

As the COVID pandemic hit, The Next Economy compiled the many economic stimulus ideas we’d collected from across Queensland into a report called “What Queensland Wants”. The report was well received by the State government, with a number of the recommendations being adopted as election promises.

The report also generated extensive media and public interest when it was released, garnering more than 62 media mentions, articles syndicated across 19 regional News Limited publications, 5 radio interviews and a regional television interview. The media attention in turn generated further interest from state and federal MPs.

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MIW Reef Resilience Project

In recognition of the importance of the food and agriculture sector and its impact on the resilience of Queensland’s iconic Great Barrier Reef, Sustainable Table (funded by the Morris Family Foundation) commissioned The Next Economy to undertake the Mackay-Isaac-Whitsunday Reef Resilience Project. The project has three broad objectives, which are to: 

  1. Provide a deeper understanding of current challenges and enablers for the food, agriculture and land use transition in the Mackay-Isaac-Whitsunday region; 
  2. Establish a range of priorities to inform the Sustainable Table Fund (formerly Ripe for Change); and
  3. Identify broader investment opportunities.
TNE MIW Reef Resilience Report_010721Download the report