Gloucester community explores renewable energy through respectful dialogue

WHEN it comes to renewable energy, Gloucester residents know there are plenty of opinions – but a community workshop on Sunday, July 26^th proved there’s also a strong appetite for respectful conversation and reliable information.

Residents from across the Gloucester region joined others from Hawks Nest and the Mid North Coast for the Yes2Renewables workshop hosted by Gloucester Transitions at Barrington Community Hall.

The interactive session explored practical ways to identify misinformation, build trust and have constructive conversations about Australia’s energy transition.

Yes2Renewables National Organiser Coco Venaglia said the workshop was designed to help people find common ground when discussing complex issues.

“We are all influenced, and sometimes shocked, by the prevalence of misinformation promoted through social media channels,” said Ms Venaglia.

“Such misinformation and misunderstanding can be addressed through face-to-face conversations and discussions.

“It is important to establish trust and get our facts right.”

Gloucester Transitions Dominique Jacobs said one of the afternoon’s highlights was hearing the personal reasons people supported the transition to renewable energy.

“We heard about the impact of the 2025 floods, concerns about future extreme weather, personal experiences of farm loss and hopes for our children and grandchildren,” said Ms Jacobs.

“At the same time, there was real optimism around the region’s growing uptake of rooftop solar, home batteries and electric vehicle charging infrastructure – practical solutions that save money while benefiting the wider community.”

The workshop also introduced participants to the Yes2Renewables Toolkit, a free resource developed to help communities engage confidently, respectfully and constructively in conversations about renewable energy.

By John WATTS