People in the coal mining area of the Upper Hunter Valley of NSW are facing challenging times as changes to global energy systems foreshadow profound shifts to the region’s social and economic outlook. As these shifts will affect whole communities they require deft navigation of local conditions, policy frameworks, and technoscientific implications. Oftentimes, however, the community is left out of these discussions. 

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In 2021, Hunter Renewal approached me to assist them and their partners at Hunter Jobs Alliance to bring the community’s priorities forward in public debate about the energy transition. Danielle Coleman, HR’s lead organiser said to me:

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I would love to have some help with working out how to be more visible when working with a tiny budget and a tiny crew of people.

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A few months later, I began working alongside them in the capacity of volunteer designer for a series of upcoming workshops with the community. These were aimed at producing a community response to legislation that was moving through the NSW Parliament that would direct funds to mining communities to kickstart their transition away from coal. Hunter Renewal and Hunter Jobs Alliance wanted to get ahead of the crafting of this legislation to make sure the community’s wishes were front and centre of legislation.

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Between August and October 2021, Hunter Renewal and the Hunter Jobs Alliance convened five workshops complemented by an online survey to gather community input, ideas and priorities for the new Royalties for Rejuvenation Fund and Expert Panel. Over 111 people engaged overall. 

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I designed the workshops, trained facilitators, synthesised research, cowrote the report, and designed the report.

 

This work led to the NSW Government adding transparency and public participation requirements to legislation surrounding post-coal redevelopment.