Find out how to cut costs and support clean energy when Nature Conservation Council NSW and Rewiring Australia host a free electrifying event at Corrimal Community Centre this Thursday from 5.30-7.30pm.
“This event is part of a larger project that I'm working on at NCC at the moment called New South Wales Leads the Charge,” said Melanie Booth, a community organiser at the Nature Conservation Council.
“We've identified some really achievable policy changes that the New South Wales government can implement, which will help households to electrify.
“So this event is really about arming the public with the knowledge they need to take advantage of the shift to clean energy and save money on their energy bills and provide them with the knowledge they need to be able to electrify their homes.”
The Nature Conservation Council has been building relationships in the region and partnered with a host of local organisations to run Thursday’s event. As well as Illawarra-based groups such as Rewiring Australia, Electrify 2515, Hi Neighbour and Good for the Gong, attendees will also get to meet Sydney GP Emma Skowronski, a member of Doctors for the Environment Australia since 2016.
“Emma is really quite passionate about climate issues and specifically the health effects of gas in the home,” Melanie said. “Gas is causing health issues within the home through gas stoves. So she'll be coming down to talk about that specifically, and the positives of the shift to clean energy from a community health perspective.
“Doctors for the Environment Australia have identified that coal-fired power stations are causing quite a lot of illness in communities, especially around them. People don't have clean air to breathe. So we're advocating for the New South Wales government to implement policies we've outlined that will help people electrify their homes and get off their dependence on gas and coal.”
Aunty Sharralyn Robinson will begin the evening with a Welcome to Country. The line-up of speakers – who will each present for about 10 minutes – will include NCC CEO Jacqui Mumford, who will be MC, and the council's policy and advocacy director Dr Brad Smith.
Sophia Walter will represent grassroots association Good for the Gong and Kristen McDonald will speak on behalf of Rewiring Australia and Electrify 2515. Actor Yael Stone, founder of local charity Hi Neighbour, and retired coal miner Darryl Best will talk about helping locals up-skill for renewable jobs, such as via Hi Neighbour's latest scholarship round for women wanting to work in clean energy.
The evening will include free practical advice on changes that residents can make at home.
"Greg Knight and the Renew Illawarra Branch will be providing the 1:1 consultations on energy bills," Melanie said
“I'd really recommend if you're coming to bring your latest energy bills, so they can give you catered advice.”
Promoting electrification has been part of the Nature Conservation Council's climate work since the 2019 NSW election. “We see it as a really important part of the transition to clean energy to help households get their emissions down and increase their energy efficiency,” Melanie said.
It's an exciting time in the shift to clean energy, she added. “The New South Wales government has been doing a lot of good work in terms of getting emissions down and clean energy online.
“But we've identified there's policies that can be implemented to really help people with the cost of living and community health."
The policy changes that NCC is calling for aim to ease cost-of-living pressures for people on low incomes or living in rentals, social housing and apartments.
“We've actually recently just sent a public letter to NSW Premier Chris Minns with these policy asks included in the letter, which has been co-signed by 31 different influential organisations spanning business workers, health, agriculture and the environment.”
Melanie has shared that letter, which readers can view here.
Anyone inspired to advocate for clean energy will have the chance to take part in a joint call for action on Thursday night.
“We’ll all be writing to the MPs together, if people would like to join,” Melanie said.
“It would be really great to meet people there. Please come along. And don't forget to bring your energy bill.”
NSW Leads the Charge - Wollongong will be on 19 September, 5:30-7:30pm in the Grevillea Hall at Corrimal Community Centre, 115 Short St. Please RSVP to help organisers with catering.
