Ark Energy welcomed the opportunity to engage with community members and other local stakeholders at the Queensland Community Energy Forum held in Proserpine on 20 March.

The forum brought together more than 130 residents, landholders and Traditional Owners, and representatives from the Queensland Government, Whitsunday Regional Council, renewable energy companies and community organisations.

Hosted by Coexistence Queensland in partnership with the Whitsunday Regional Council, Queensland Renewable Energy Council, and the Queensland Resources Council, the forum focused on practical and locally-relevant information, and highlighted the importance of landholder, neighbour and broader community engagement as part of project developments.

Cr Ry Collins, Mayor, Whitsunday Regional Council said the strong turnout reflected the community’s desire for clarity and meaningful input.

“The Whitsunday Region has a diverse mix of industries and a strong history of being a resources and energy producer,” Cr Collins said.

“The conversations at the forum emphasised the importance of putting local voices at the centre of the conversation for new resources and energy development.

“It is vital that the community has access to clear, practical information and a genuine opportunity to ask questions and raise issues directly with industry and government.

“This forum brought those voices together in one room and was a critical component of the ongoing conversation around resources and energy projects in this region, ensuring developments deliver a lasting legacy for the community.”

Warwick Squire, CEO, Coexistence Queensland said that a strong focus on community engagement, open conversations, and collaborative partnerships were essential.

“The energy and resources conversation is important for many Queensland communities and a consistent message is that benefits and impacts of development need to be understood and managed appropriately,” Mr Squire said.

“The Queensland Community Energy Forum provided a place to bring everyone together to have those conversations.”

Katie-Anne Mulder, CEO, Queensland Renewable Energy Council added that open dialogue with landholders strengthens project design.

“Developers heard directly what this community expects – respectful engagement, transparency around project footprints and thoughtful approaches to neighbouring landholder impacts,” Ms Mulder said.

Across the forum, attendees discussed issues such as good engagement, potential impacts on agriculture, road and traffic management, emergency response planning, environmental safeguards, and long-term land use.

A dedicated expo allowed residents to discuss project proposals face-to-face with developers and government agencies.

Full event program here.