Rob Wheals is Chief Executive Officer of Squadron Energy.
Written by Squadron Energy |
Australia might be one of the most urbanised countries on the planet but for many of us, regional Australia is where our heart lives.
Be it where we grew up, our agricultural roots, Indigenous Australians’ deep commitment to Country or simply a love of the great outdoors, Australians have an affinity to regional communities.
So, when something as transformational as the shift to renewable energy is occurring in these regions it means a lot to all of us. And we must get it right.
Renewables companies who are genuinely working with the regions, where consulting is a two-way conversation, must share their knowledge with the entire industry. There’s nothing that country people hate more than being talked at by folks from the city, while not really being able to decide what’s best for them locally.
At the same time, the renewable energy industry and Governments at all levels need to do a better job of explaining the vast benefits of the transition to clean energy.
That’s why the company I lead, Squadron Energy, engaged the Regional Australia Institute (RAI) to model the potential social and economic impacts of the transition from 2024 to 2030.
The benefits are huge.
The RAI research shows renewable energy projects will create 6,400 full-time equivalent jobs across Australia by 2030, primarily in the construction, engineering and professional design industries.
But it’s the supply chain flow-on effects that make an even bigger difference. Outside of directly working for renewables companies, there will be another 7,600 jobs in industries like transport and manufacturing. And the consumption created in the regions – with more people working and living locally – creates another 5,700 jobs.
All up the modelling shows a net gain of almost 20,000 jobs.
The emergence of Renewable Energy Zones has the potential to contribute to the reversal of the “brain drain” to coastal capital cities. Country kids won’t need to become a FIFO worker in the Bowen Basin or Hunter Valley to chase a high paying job and remain in the regions.
If we get it right, over decades whole careers can be forged for white and blue collar workers building the transition in Renewable Energy Zones.
But it will take commitment from the renewable energy companies to build the pipeline of local skills, as well as local projects.
In Squadron Energy’s case, our owners Andrew and Nicola Forrest are both from remote and rural Australia, and their affection and commitment to the regions flows through how we strive to conduct ourselves.
In practice, for us that means three things, and we urge others to follow suit.
Through deep listening, understand local pinch points and ensure your company has a proper local presence. For Squadron we understand the challenges of local internet and phone connectivity so we are developing Squadron Link, a mesh wireless network that can operate within 20 kilometres of our projects. We’re also delivering water security through a public private partnership with Dubbo Regional Council to build a new advanced wastewater treatment facility - creating legacy infrastructure for the wider community.
Look to the future. What do job and training opportunities look like in a localised context? What does future growth look like? For Squadron it means partnering locally to provide First Nations traineeships and supporting local suppliers so they can support apprenticeships.
Invest in the heart of a community. It is the small community groups, the charities, the sporting clubs and the Landcare groups that are the soul of each local town, so invest in what they need to build their capacity and ensure they are sustainable long term for the community they’re in.
Put simply, we must put regional communities at the heart of the opportunity and invest not just the money, but also the time, to ensure these once in a generation benefits are realised and shared across the country.
