Learning from Gippsland: A Better Way to Shape Our Energy Future

Across regional Australia, the clean energy transition is moving quickly. Here in Narrabri Shire, about a half a dozen solar and battery storage projects are already on the horizon. This brings both opportunity and challenge: how do we make sure these projects deliver genuine benefits for our communities, rather than leaving us divided or side-lined?

Community participants from Gippsland

One answer may lie in Gippsland, where a ground-breaking community process has just shown what is possible.

The Gippsland Offshore Wind Community Assembly

Earlier this year, the Gippsland Climate Change Network and DemocracyCo brought together a representative group of local residents to deliberate on the future of offshore wind. Over several weeks, participants listened to experts, discussed concerns, and worked through differences to shape a shared vision for how their region could benefit.

The results were remarkable:

• Knowledge doubled: There was a 102 percent increase in participants who said they knew a lot about how offshore wind works.

• Support grew: By the end, 91 percent supported offshore wind in their region, a 30 percent jump from the start.

• Social cohesion improved: All participants said they better understood different perspectives, and they were able to have civil, respectful conversations even when they disagreed.

• Trust was built: Confidence in local organisations like the Gippsland Climate Change Network rose by 76 percent.

• Democratic skills grew: Nearly everyone reported stronger skills in listening, compromising, and advocating for change.

Most importantly, participants reached consensus on how community benefits should be shared.

Why This Matters for Our Region

Our community is already seeing the early stages of development of solar and battery storage. These projects have the potential to transform our energy system, but only if they are developed in a way that is transparent, fair, and inclusive.

Without a clear process for engagement, there is a risk of division, misinformation, or decisions being made without community input. With a process like Gippsland’s, we could instead:

• Build trust between developers, councils, and communities.

• Ensure local benefits are identified and delivered.

• Strengthen community cohesion, so we face the energy transition together rather than fractured.

• Develop local leaders who can advocate effectively for our region.

A Call for Collaboration

If Gippsland can do this for offshore wind, why not here for solar and battery projects? Imagine a process where residents, farmers, Narrabri Shire Council, Traditional Owners, developers, and community groups sit down together to shape how these projects should work for us.

The Gippsland Assembly showed that communities are not only capable of engaging with complex issues, but that they thrive when given the chance.

Participants described it as “what democracy can look like: people coming together to shape their future with respect, care, and conviction”

Where to From Here?

At Geni.Energy, we believe the time is right for a collaborative, deliberative process in our region. With multiple large-scale projects on the horizon, we need a structure that ensures decisions are not just made for us, but with us.

We are inspired by Gippsland’s leadership and invite local councils, project developers, and community groups to consider supporting a similar process here. The energy transition is not just about technology, it is about people, trust, and shared futures.

What do you think?

Would you support a Gippsland-style community assembly to help shape solar and battery projects in our region? Join the conversation, share your thoughts, and help us start building a process that works for everyone.

Read the full report here.