More than 40 Central-West Orana leaders have convened in Mudgee, NSW as the need for coordinated action to enable the energy transition grows.
The leaders came together to discuss the Regional Energy Accord, a new framework being co-designed to ensure regional communities have agency and a collective voice in an evolving energy landscape.
It forms part of a national listening tour being carried out by The Energy Charter, a CEO-led coalition of nearly 30 energy organisations.
RDA Orana CEO Justine Campbell said the roundtable turnout demonstrated the community’s commitment to being an active partner in the energy transition.
“The transition is happening,” she said. “What matters now is ensuring the people who live and work, not just in our region but across all of regional Australia, help set the priorities, manage the impacts and secure the long‑term benefits.
“With our region sitting at the forefront of Australia’s energy transformation, we see the Accord as a critical mechanism to ensure development is coordinated, transparent and genuinely beneficial for local communities.
“The Accord provides a pathway for regions to secure improved energy affordability, local jobs and procurement, better planning for housing and essential services, and stronger protection of land, water and biodiversity – all priorities for Orana’s long‑term prosperity.”
The Accord, which will be tailored to the needs of different regions nationally, is set to focus on three key pillars:
- Authentic engagement: early, honest and ongoing involvement of landholders, neighbours, councils, communities, young people and First Nations people.
- Delivering benefits and managing impacts: local jobs and procurement, housing and services planning, community wellbeing, protection of land and water, and meaningful First Nations partnerships.
- Transparency and accountability: clear commitments, public reporting and independent governance.
CEO of The Energy Charter, Sabiene Heindl, explained the initiative in more detail.
“The Regional Energy Accord is being co-designed with input across regions nationally as a high‑level national umbrella agreement that will enable locally‑led, place‑based Accords in each region,” she said.
“Every region is different and local knowledge matters. That’s why we are taking the time to visit the regions, hear what local leaders have lived and experienced, and use those insights to build a co-operative national framework.
“The Accord is not about supporting or opposing renewable energy projects. Its purpose is to ensure any energy development delivers real, tangible and enduring benefits for regional people, while impacts are managed responsibly and transparently.”
The Energy Charter will continue its tour across Australia as it gathers contributions to support the Regional Energy Accord, which is progressing towards a national draft later this year.
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