Justine Campbell – CEO of RDA Orana reflects on the honest conversations at the Central-West Orana Roundtable and the four themes that emerged for building a more coordinated regional approach to the energy transition.
There is no debate that the energy transition is re-shaping regional Australia. The unprecedented scale of current and emerging renewable energy projects presents both opportunities and challenges for regional communities.
In the Central-West Orana Renewable Energy Zone alone, renewable energy projects (such as solar and wind farms) are expected to attract up to $25 billion in private investment, support more than 1800 jobs in the local area during construction and 930 operational jobs from 2034 and unlock 4.5 gigawatts of network capacity.[1] It is a once-in-a- generation opportunity for our region.
The challenge? On the ground, communities feel disconnected from projects. Engagement feels sporadic, disjointed or comes too late to allow for meaningful participation in key decisions. Benefits are fragmented, inconsistent and difficult to measure. And the cumulative impact of multiple projects places real pressure on local services, infrastructure and the fabric of our communities.
What I see in the Central-West Orana and across many regional areas, is a strong desire to shift from being passive hosts of energy projects to active partners in shaping outcomes. Communities want to be part of building the principles, values and structures that ensure the energy transition delivers long‑term regional prosperity that lasts well beyond construction.
This sentiment was evident in the clear and honest conversations at the recent Regional Energy Accord Central-West Orana Roundtable in Mudgee, hosted by RDA Orana and The Energy Charter.
Community leaders, local businesses, industry and government representatives came to the table with a shared understanding that the current way of doing things is not working – and a strong appetite to do better.
One of the key takeaways for me was the recognition that no single actor or organisation can be the catalyst for meaningful and lasting change. It requires a coordinated regional approach, with the flexibility to respond to local needs and priorities.
So, what does this look like in practice? Four themes emerged strongly from the Central-West Orana Roundtable discussions:
Moving from fragmented engagement to coordinated and authentic regional action
Participants were clearly focused on shifting away from project‑by‑project engagement towards a more consistent, region‑wide approach that reduces duplication, provides clarity and ensures everyone is working from the same playbook.
Building trust, transparency and visible follow‑through
Trust is essential. Communities want clear commitments, transparent communication and follow‑through that is both visible and measurable.
Prioritising locally‑led, place‑based decision‑making
Local knowledge must shape local outcomes. Communities want a structured way to articulate what “good” looks like for them — whether that’s long‑term jobs, infrastructure, environmental stewardship or social and cultural wellbeing. And they want to be included in the conversation early and often.
Building systems and structures that outlast individual projects
To create lasting legacies, we need durable systems that extend beyond any single project, developer or election cycle and support regional prosperity over decades.
That is the power of a national Regional Energy Accord – it will become a shared framework or structure that brings consistency and predictability to how engagement, benefits and expectations of the energy transition are managed across regional Australia, while keeping the needs and priorities of individual regional communities firmly in view.
With the insights from Central‑West Orana and the momentum building across regional Australia, we have a real opportunity to shape an energy transition that strengthens our communities for generations.