‘Let’s Rethink Renewables’: Gympie residents rally for energy policy change

Community leaders in Gympie have launched a campaign urging a reassessment of Australia’s current energy policy.

'Let's Think Renewables' group is led by Katy McCallum and Jim Willmott.

The Gympie region will see the launch of the ‘Let’s Rethink Renewables’ campaign on Tuesday, urging the community and government to reconsider Australia’s current energy policy.

Led by Katy McCallum of the Kilkivan Action Group and Jim Willmott of Property Rights Australia, the campaign advocates for a reassessment of the renewables-only strategy, which they argue affects rural and regional landscapes.

“Over the past 18 months, Katy and I have collaborated with more than 40 different groups, and the message from grassroots communities is clear; a renewable-only future is adversely affecting our way of life,” Mr Willmott said.

“In the rush to meet renewable energy targets, communities are being steamrolled by the government, corporations, and foreign renewable project developers.”

Wind farm generic.

The group said farmland, landscapes and wildlife habitats are being destroyed by renewable projects

“Once they are gone, they are gone for good,” Mr Willmott said.

Ms McCallum said the ‘Let’s Rethink Renewables’ campaign was made possible by donations from people across the Greater Gympie region and elsewhere.

“The cumulative impact of these developments is devastating, threatening to irreversibly alter the character of our beloved region,” Ms McCallum said.

“We want to increase public awareness and ask people to get on board with a campaign to rethink renewables and energy policy in this country.

“We want an immediate halt to industrial-scale renewable developments and a rethink of how we will sustain our baseload power generation now and for future generations,” she said.

The group plans to spread multiple billboards across the region, along with a series of social media, radio, and television advertisements.

Originally published as ‘Let’s Rethink Renewables’: Gympie residents rally for energy policy change