Regional leaders, industry stakeholders and community members interested in the renewable energy transition have come together at the Cradle Coast Future Energy Hub to hear from renowned environmental scientist, engineer, author and journalist Dr Paul Hardisty.
This in-person event focused on empowering the Cradle Coast community to navigate the region’s renewable energy transformation amid the challenges of misinformation. Dr Hardisty, former CEO of the Australian Institute of Marine Science, shared firsthand insights from his book ‘In Hot Water’.
Key themes of the event highlighted the importance of collective action and the need to envision the future we want. Emphasising the value of backing that vision with a clear model, and the critical role of supporting leaders to engage in ambitious – and sometimes difficult – conversations to drive better regional outcomes.
Cradle Coast Authority’s Regional Development Manager, Veronica Terry, explains, “Our region is on the cusp of significant economic growth in the form of renewable energy projects, with more than $15 billion of projects in the pipeline.”
“As a region, we will support many different types of renewable energy technology, including wind, solar, hydrogen, eFuels, hydro battery, enabling infrastructure and transmission infrastructure. Successfully navigating this transformation will require building new knowledge and capabilities across the region.”
“In order to harness this growth and economic opportunity, we need to support each other to navigate respectful conversations, noting our community may not always have access to good quality information that is tailored to their personal needs and preferences,” Ms Terry said.
By hosting Dr. Hardisty, our region gained an opportunity to enhance communication skills that encourage respectful and informed dialogue with our community. The event generated meaningful conversations about trust in information, the role of community voices in large-scale change, and the need for tailored local engagement as Tasmania advances its renewable energy future.
Attendees also had the chance to ask questions and purchase copies of his acclaimed non-fiction book In Hot Water: Inside the Battle to Save the Great Barrier Reef, provided by local bookseller Not Just Books.
For information about future events or the Future Energy Hub, contact Veronica Terry on 0419 395 178 or [email protected].
