For immediate release Thursday 7 August 2025
The Renewable Energy Alliance (RE-Alliance) has wrapped up hosting Australia’s inaugural Regional Leaders Summit on the shift to renewables.
Held across two days in Newcastle from 5 to 6 August, more than 90 rural and regional leaders from across local governments, regional development, First Nations and community groups, came to learn from each other about leading their communities through significant large-scale renewable energy planning and development.
Delegates represented communities from Western Australia, Tasmania, Queensland, Victoria, South Australia and across New South Wales and brought perspectives from Australia’s most advanced Renewable Energy Zones through to regions at the beginning of their journey.
Regional leaders shared how they have tried to coordinate risks and opportunities in the shift to renewable energy, and expressed significant gaps in capacity across local government and community organisations to prepare for the challenges ahead.
Many of these challenges and opportunities are outlined in the publication of a new report this week - Striking a New Deal for Renewables in Regions authored by FRRR and Projects JSA as part of the Striking a New Deal collaboration between RE-Alliance, The Next Economy, FRRR and Projects JSA.
Tracy Lefroy, Shire President of Moora in the wheatbelt of Western Australia said she travelled to the Summit because her region is at the forefront of the shift to renewables in WA.
“As a regional community you can sometimes feel a bit isolated and you’re thinking - what levers can I pull, where is my agency, where is my influence?” she said.
“Coming together like this, it’s clear that local governments are the ones who create the environment for things to happen. It’s up to us to get the right people in the room, and equip those with influence to pull the levers that ensure our community is better off following Australia's energy transition," Tracy Lefroy said.
Veronica Terry from the Cradle Coast Authority in north west Tasmania said that with $15 billion worth of renewable energy projects in the pipeline for her region, the Summit was delivered at the perfect time.
"Being together with people from all over the country with such a diversity of expertise, interests and insights has been incredible - I've walked away with a lot, including instant collaborations that will benefit our region and the councils we work with." Veronica Terry said.
Andrew Bray, National Director of RE-Alliance said the Summit was created by regional leaders, for regional leaders.
“There are so many conferences where industry and governments come together to further Australia’s shift to renewables, but regional voices are rarely at the centre,” he said.
“From different models of community benefit sharing and First Nations ownership and engagement, to housing and workforce solutions, to nature and decommissioning - we’ve gone deep on a range of complex issues that regional leaders are grappling with across the country.
“The unifying theme is a sense of energy to harness the swirl of uncertainty in regions where large scale renewable energy projects are being planned for or developed, and using it to positively realise the best outcomes for our communities,” Andrew Bray said.
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About RE-Alliance: The Renewable Energy Alliance (RE-Alliance) is an independent not-for-profit that has been working for more than a decade with regional communities at the centre of the shift to renewables. RE-Alliance works to deliver a responsible and rapid shift to renewable energy that actively contributes to the strength and resilience of our regions.
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For media inquiries and interview requests please contact Kitty Walker on 0438900117 or [email protected]