{"id":371334,"date":"2026-04-20T19:44:11","date_gmt":"2026-04-20T09:44:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=371334"},"modified":"2026-04-20T22:28:09","modified_gmt":"2026-04-20T12:28:09","slug":"clean-energy-trust-fragile","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2026\/04\/20\/clean-energy-trust-fragile\/","title":{"rendered":"Clean Energy Trust ‘Fragile’"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Regional Development Australia Wide Bay Burnett chairman Bill Trevor<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

April 20, 2026<\/strong><\/p>\n

A report by Regional Development Australia Wide Bay Burnett (RDAWBB) into the clean energy transition has found that community trust in government and industry is “fragile”.<\/p>\n

RDAWBB chair Bill Trevor OAM said many industry stakeholders were eager to adopt new energy solutions, however concerns remained over the economic impact and the need for clearer policy direction.<\/p>\n

The report was prepared after consultations in Kingaroy, Murgon, Gayndah, Bundaberg, Hervey Bay, Maryborough and Gympie in April last year.<\/p>\n

There were in-person workshops and forums, virtual sessions, interviews with business owners and an online survey open to the public.<\/p>\n

“This report captures the perspectives of industry leaders and stakeholders across Wide Bay Burnett, offering valuable insights into the evolving energy landscape and recommendations for pathways forward,” Mr Trevor said.<\/strong><\/p>\n

A key finding of the report was that trust and social license needed rebuilding:\u00a0“Community trust in government and industry remains fragile. Stakeholders consistently called for more transparent, inclusive and consistent engagement to ensure communities feel genuinely heard and have ownership of transition pathways.<\/p>\n

“Stakeholders acknowledge the transition is inevitable and already under way. However, many communities feel unprepared for its pace and scale, with concerns around being left behind.”<\/p>\n

The report noted there was uncertainty and disengagement and “a sense that local voices are not meaningfully included in key decisions”.<\/p>\n

“Businesses are motivated to adopt new technologies but face major hurdles,\u00a0 including high upfront costs, unclear policy settings, limited technical support and lack of access to finance or grants.”<\/p>\n