The final panel session provided an opportunity to bring together threads of discussion from the entire conference, featuring talks from three key delegates: David Darcy, CEO of Greenstreets Environmental Resources; Hugh Outhred, an Associate Professor from the University of New South Wales; and Scott Young, Director of Infrastructure and Regulation Services.
Mr Young highlighted the importance of playing an active role in shaping and contesting government policy and legislation.
“The rules are not working for us. We can work within the rules, or we can change the rules. Rules can be changed – any person can file for rule change.”
Mr Young also urged participants to engage in political debate.
Article continues below…“Go after policy makers. Maintain a positive, constructive stance,” he said.
Hugh Outhred criticised the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme as “far too abstract”, suggesting local government innovation as a more practical vehicle of change. He said that smaller-scale change would be likely to be more successful, becoming a platform to “try things out, see what’s working and what’s not, select things that are working and replicate them”.
Mr Darcy reminded delegates of the financial benefits to be taken advantage of throughout the climate change crisis.
“There is some really good funding out there, not just for capital projects, but for operational projects,” Mr Darcy said.
The session was then opened up to questions and comments from the audience. Some key suggestions included the formation of a representative body for renewable energy in rural areas, as well as an award for the most obtuse government framework.
Channel Seven weather presenter Rob Gell made an appearance as Master of Ceremonies. He told participants “There has been a collegiality to which you all operate, and your contributions are stimulating to see.”
He also said that he thought the conference would have a bearing on future Australian policy.
Cr Keith Reynard from the City of Greater Bendigo described the event as a great success.
“One of the benefits of the conference is that it brings together a range of industry people, people from policy and regulatory environments, but also local government and community-based representatives,” he said.
Cr Reynard added that Bendigo was an ideal location for the conference as it is a regional capital itself, and a central location in terms of some of the regional developments he hoped the event would eventually inspire.
The conference included a session devoted to one such project already underway in the area: the Central Victorian Solar City, which will include solar parks located in Greater Bendigo and Ballarat.
Other regional Victorian projects discussed at the conference included the Wonthaggi project, an energy efficient, virtually self-sustainable apartment style building; and the Hepburn wind project, a community wind farm in the developmental stages.
