ABOUT 200 people from coal-power regions along Australia's east coast will gather on Lake Macquarie this weekend to discuss transition planning and pollution issues around ageing coal-fired power stations.
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The Power and Pollution: National Community Summit has been organised by the Hunter Community Environment Centre (HCEC), at Point Wolstoncroft Sport and Recreation Centre.
HCEC last year published findings on accumulating heavy metals in the Lake Macquarie estuary, stemming from leaching coal-ash dumps at the Vales Point and Eraring power stations.
The two-day summit will feature eight expert speakers on Saturday sharing contemporary research and insights into transition and pollution issues at power stations across Australia, including Liddell in the Hunter, Hazelwood and Yallourn in the Latrobe Valley in Victoria, and Collie in Western Australia.
On Sunday, local and interstate community participants will take centre stage.
Summit organiser and HCEC coordinator Jo Lynch said the summit was especially relevant for Lake Macquarie and the Central Coast.
"Communities around coal-power stations must play a lead role in the transition of our energy sector," Ms Lynch said.
"This summit will resource people from key coal-energy regions with knowledge and tools to positively shape the transition of their communities.
"Comprehensive environmental remediation is our priority for the transition, but we're excited to have expert speakers from around Australia on board to add to the broader picture of the economic, governmental, industry and importantly community aspects of a just transition process."
Melbourne University's Professor John Wiseman is part of the international Energy Transition Research Hub and will give the opening address.
"The changes in Australia's energy sector are happening far more rapidly than anticipated," Professor Wiseman said.
"It's great to see local communities getting together to plan and prepare for that change."
Second on the bill is Dr Amanda Cahill, CEO of the Next Economy, an organisation that has been leading the way on just transition planning across the country.
"The coming together of communities from Australian coal regions presents a rare opportunity to exchange stories, concerns and lived experiences about the challenges and opportunities presented by large-scale industry transition.," Dr Cahill said.
Ms Lynch said the summit was about exposing the possibilities and problems being identified through research.
"But it's also a platform for people to begin working together to implement community-led changes that will shape the transition of the energy sector unfolding right now."
Visit powerandpollution.com.au
