Location: Mid West, Western Australia
Population: 54, 981 (2021 Census)
Main communities:Geraldton / Dongara
Fast facts:
- An economically diverse region with strong representation in the mining, agricultural, pastoral, fishing and tourism industries
- The Mid West covers nearly 286,000 km2, encompassing 17 local government areas, with more than half the population residing in the City of Greater Geraldton
- This part of Western Australia has an abundance of sunshine and wind, as well access to deep seaports
Spread across more than 40 projects, there is approximately $10 billion of current and proposed net zero industry investments in the region including on and offshore energy projects, hydrogen projects, carbon capture and storage, mineral sands extraction, rare earth processing and fertiliser production.
STRATEGIC INITIATIVES FOR NET ZERO TRANSITION
The following initiatives are considered flagship investments by the Mid West Development Commission, with transformative potential:
- Oakajee Strategic Industrial Area - production of renewable hydrogen for domestic and commercial use, advanced manufacturing and export.
- Arrowsmith Development Hub (ADH) - energy transition projects in the North Midlands.
A GOOD TRANSITION
According to workshop participants, a good net zero transition in the Mid West is one that ensures no community groups are left behind and communities learn from past mistakes – both their own and other communities’. Some community leaders commented that it was vital that transition progress did not disadvantage vulnerable groups such as renters, low-income earners and the elderly, for example, with a lack of access to reliable and affordable electricity. There was also a desire for common use infrastructure to be funded and built in a way that supports industry growth while maintaining regional liveability. The region’s community leaders expressed the importance of attracting and maintaining a skilled workforce that can be provided with adequate housing, childcare and a reasonable cost of living. A participant suggested that one way to retain and grow populations in smaller shires is to provide clear qualification and career pathways for young people.
CONTEXT
Agriculture is a major sector of the Mid West economy and importantly, the core of its community identity. Although not as vocal as the eastern states, land use conflicts are emerging and groups are becoming increasingly organised. One resident expressed during an interview that expert farmers recognise their land is prime for wind and solar and are willing to work with these industries, but not to the detriment of farming production. Some local government staff also noted that farmers were some of their highest rate payers and often influential members of their communities as their families had been farming for generations. Local government staff mentioned that greater guidance and clear direction from state and federal government departments would be of great benefit when explaining to community members the reasons for, and potential long-term benefits of, changes resulting from energy transition requirements.
Participants often made the comparison between the new energy transition projects and mining. Their current caution toward large-scale projects and their implications for small surrounding communities was in part due to previous experiences with mining in the region – tensions were noted around worker camp building approvals, as well as road use and maintenance.
Feelings of fatigue and indifference were expressed throughout communities in the Mid West regarding energy transition projects. This is in part due to a yet unfulfilled four-decade long promise of major road construction and industrial area precincts. One Mid West resident commented that he had been hearing about Oakajee since the 1970s, so much so that it has become a regional myth amongst the older generation. This scepticism has somewhat passed to the next generation. Some community members are reluctant to prioritise energy transition project planning in favour of more pressing community issues such as housing and liveability. Participants expressed concern that some communities and current industries in the region are struggling with limited access to water and unreliable power sources. Residents also expressed their frustrations at the apparent fragile power grids in the region, with some communities experiencing blackouts that leave them and their businesses without power for days at a time, resulting in significant economic and noneconomic flow-on consequences, such as lost income or spoiled food.
Some participants expressed frustration at the ability of the Mid West region to receive power but not send power, querying the priorities of the state government as this seems to be a lost opportunity for the Mid West to be a renewable energy hub given the amount of sunshine and wind in the region.
PARTNERSHIPS
All participants unanimously expressed a view that open and honest collaboration and communication are necessary for a fair energy transition. They noted that one-sided consultations, where an industry proponent or agency simply informs a community of their intentions, are not adequate consultations. Community members, organisations and local governments expressed a strong desire to be included in the decision-making process and have their needs genuinely considered.
Research participants highlighted a power imbalance between small local governments in the region when approaching state government departments in Perth for assistance, or when being approached by international industry proponents to negotiate land access. The Mid West Development Commission and Regional Development Australia - Mid West & Gascoyne (RDAMWG) help facilitate discussions between local governments, proponents, state government agencies and community members. Participants agreed that a facilitator is often needed for effective collaboration to occur between different levels of stakeholders. Participants noted a gap within local governments concerning resources and experience of staff to invest in strategic planning and growth of communities – a gap that is often filled by regional facilitators like the Mid West Development Commission and RDAMWG which coordinate local government collaboration to increase bargaining power. Despite the beneficial roles these regional organisations have in the Mid West, they are both limited by funding constraints, small number of staff and overall capacity.
Although there is much goodwill and a strong desire to collaborate, participants noted that collaboration feels one sided and primarily from the bottom up: Local government staff noted they are often the initiators of communication with state and federal departments. One participant shared that they had written to a federal government department thirteen times asking for community direction but had never received a response.
DEVELOPMENT
Development is primarily industry-driven, with proponents approaching landowners who then turn to local governments for advice. Local government representatives expressed uncertainty as to how best to proceed and noted consistent information, guidelines, and messaging that is developed by federal and state governments and then distributed to the regions would be appreciated.
Local government representatives said they were looking to achievements in Europe and have identified that they want advice and require the knowledge of skilled people who have experience to transition successfully. For example, when discussing social impact assessments (SIA), one Mid West participant noted that there was no state planning policy on SIAs so they had to use a template from the Irish Government and adapt it to their own context.
SUCCESS FACTORS
The understanding of the need for an energy transition was generally high among Mid West participants and they reported high levels of community goodwill towards collaboratively achieving this. However, it was evident from interviews with research participants that approaches to planning and collaboration remain in the formative stages of development. Some local governments have net zero goals embedded in strategic community plans however many prioritise more immediate community issues. Local government stakeholders expressed a desire for state and federal departments to assist with resources for planning and monitoring net zero initiatives rather than relying on existing resources. Participants made it clear that getting local support for these projects is dependent on demonstrating that they will address current social infrastructure deficits and leave a tangible positive legacy for the region in future.
Collaborative clusters are beginning to form throughout the region across a variety of community actors: industry, government, community and education. Due to resource constraints and vast distances between local government areas, the sharing of information and learning between the subregions remains underdeveloped.
CAPABILITIES
Research participants noted that funding is scarce and local governments are understaffed, forcing local leaders to prioritise their community issues on a sliding scale of needs and capabilities. This is particularly problematic for smaller local governments, which typically have fewer than half a dozen staff and service communities with fewer than 1,000 residents. For example, many participants recounted having to drive five to eight hours for a meeting with state government departments in Perth and back to their offices the next day for local commitments. The safety of the roads and exhaustion experienced from driving long distances were discussed among participants, but with inadequate staff available in town, they had to assume additional responsibilities. Regarding hiring personnel with specific skills or experience, participants noted the significant costs associated with bringing experts into town, if they could secure someone at all, to satisfy the requirements of energy ratings of new builds being up to code.
Constraints of limited funding and staff capacity are also experienced across regional, state and federal government agencies including the Mid West Development Commission and RDAMWG. Community members and local governments, while appreciating the assistance of each organisation, were quick to note that they too were limited in how much they could assist with energy transition planning and projects due to limited resources.
FUTURE STEPS
The Oakajee Strategic Industrial Area Estate Structure Plan Report was approved in 2012 and subsequent technical reports have been released, however, the site remains dormant. Participants indicated that one of the reasons for the continued delay can be attributed to disagreement over infrastructure and who is responsible for the cost of construction. Stakeholders include local government and businesses, various state government departments, state government agencies like Western Power and Main Roads, and six proponents included in land allocations. Until a clear arrangement can be made regarding responsibilities, Oakajee will remain a source of frustration for local residents.
Despite the challenges that the Mid West region faces, its residents, organisations, and industries remain resilient — a characteristic ingrained in the Mid West due to its long history of self-reliance. There are many projects underway that provide opportunities for regional expansion, diversification, and sustainable futures. For example, the Mid West Ports Authority has the capacity to expand the Port of Geraldton or set up other ports along the Mid West coast, which could further facilitate trade and tourism opportunities for the region and global critical mineral company has received funding and begun activating its Rare Earth Refinery.
IMPACT OF POLICIES
Participants explained that local governments are responsible for navigating industry consultations regarding renewable energy projects. Some participants explained that having to create “policy on the run” at a local government level can be problematic, commenting that some industry proponents may use the absence of clear policy to their advantage, and request guidance from the state government. Specific examples of this guidance included land leases and local diversification leases.
Participants commented that there appears to be a disconnect between state government departments. For example, a disconnect between the Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science, and Innovation (JTSI) which is responsible for the Oakajee Strategic Industrial Area, and the Department of Planning, Land, and Heritage (DPLH), which is responsible for integrated land and infrastructure policy development and land use planning and policy development.84 Participants confirmed that they would like to see JTSI and DPLH provide joint guidance to local governments in matters of land diversification and renewable energy projects.
WORKFORCE AND HOUSING
Participants expressed a desire for utilisation of the local workforce wherever possible, noting the benefits of education pathways for local youth. They noted, however, that if all energy transition projects in the pipeline were to proceed, an additional 30,000 workers would be required. Participants also noted the additional benefit of not exacerbating the housing shortage with out-of-region workers.
Participants expressed their preference for projects to build new housing stock which could be added to the community supply after the project was completed. This also extended to camps which could be redesigned into holiday accommodation, or single-house units retrofitted into a three-bedroom house depending on future needs of the community. It was clearly articulated that participants saw that housing was the largest constraint for their existing communities as well as for accommodating workforces needed for energy transition projects. Mid West participants advocated for industry proponents to build housing within communities as part of the social impact assessments and policy guidelines.
This case study is an excerpt from the Towards Net Zero: Empowering Regional Communities report, which was released in August 2024, under the Intergovernmental Shared Inquiry Program.
This report was funded by the Australian Government, in conjunction with the NSW, Queensland, South Australian and Western Australian Governments.