National Landholder Engagement Training Details

    Wagga Wagga NSW | 2, 3 and 4 September 2024 

    Our 3rd round of the National Landholder Engagement Training on 2, 3 and 4 September 2024 supporting those engaging with landholders and communities on renewable energy developments to do their job well and support better shared value outcomes. 

    We will hear directly from landholders on what’s going well and where we can improve. We will have a full day on understanding community concerns and better practice communications and engagement. We will also get insights from land agents and community engagement leaders about things they have learnt on the ground and explore how to support each other.

    Attending this 3-day program will provide insights, tools and new skills to use on the job. You will have the opportunity to forge connections with land agents and community engagement leads across transmission businesses and renewable developers as well as participating in the training with colleagues from AEMO and EWON.

    AEIC review into community engagement

    As reported in the Australian Energy and Infrastructure Commissioner’s (AEIC) review into community engagement, the skills, experience and knowledge of engagement personnel and management across renewable energy organisations are not meeting community expectations. This challenges the opportunities to develop long-term, effective relationships with landholders, neighbours and broader regional community.

    The Energy Charter’s National Landholder Engagement training was established at the request of the AEIC in 2023. By investing in better practice landholder engagement, renewable energy organisations will be better equipped to meet the expectations of landholders, communities and the Review.

    Quick links:

    Agenda + topics

    Training locations

    Transport options

    Accommodation options

    Payment Options

    Training support

    Agenda

    Day 1 - Welcome + setting the scene

    What you need to know

    • Arrival: 1:30pm onwards to collect your name tag for a 2pm start at Transgrid Discovery Hub
    • Inclusions: Afternoon tea is supplied on arrival
    • Conclusion: 5pm

    Networking Drinks

    • Arrival: 5pm, directly after the conclusion of Day 1 in the same event space
    • Inclusions: Drinks and canapes. Dinner NOT included
    • Conclusion: 7:15pm

    Topics covered

    • Energy Charter + Social Licence
    • Setting the scene: Renewable energy development in NSW
    • Landholder Insights Panel: Chat with landholders on what’s going well and our opportunities to improve
    • Welcome + networking drinks – explore your artistic side as we create a communal artwork with indigenous artist Luke Penrith

    Day 2 - Skills development workshop

    What you need to know

    • Arrival: 8am onwards for an 8:30am start at Transgrid Discovery Hub
    • Inclusions: Morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea. Breakfast NOT included
    • Conclusion: 4:30pm, 1 hour break before bus leaves for dinner from same venue

    National Landholder Engagement Training Dinner

    • Arrival: 5:15pm for a 5:30pm departure on bus from the Transgrid Discovery Hub
    • Driving: For those who will drive, arrive at 6pm at Food I Am, 29 Kunzea Pl, Springvale NSW 2650
    • Attire: Smart casual, there will be a photographer!
    • Guest speakers: Janine Young, Ombudsman, Energy and Water Ombudsman NSW and Rod Stowe, Transgrid’s Landowner & Community Advocate + Member, Transgrid Advisory Council + Community Director, Energy & Water Ombudsman Board NSW
    • Conclusion: 9pm with bus departing back to Transgrid Discovery Hub

    Topic covered

    • Communicating controversial projects with Kelly Parkinson: Full day training on understanding and responding meaningfully to community concern
    • Land Agent Insights Panel: Chat with land agents and community engagement leaders to share experiences

    Day 3 - Full day bus excursion

    What you need to know

    • Arrival: 6:45am at the Transgrid Discovery Hub for breakfast at 7am, then a 7:30am bus departure for the full day excursion
    • Attire: Must wear long pants (e.g. jeans), hiking or safety boots and a High Vis vest. Please bring your own High Vis vest if you own one. If you do not have a High Vis vest, one can be organised for you (but there is limited supply).
    • Important: All site visits require attendees to have a ZERO-level alcohol limit
    • Walking: There will be some walking involved from the bus to each site, this is expected to be around 500 metres and on flat but uneven terrain
    • Inclusions: Breakfast, morning tea, lunch. Afternoon tea and dinner are NOT included
    • Conclusion: Wagga Wagga Airport drop-off at 3pm and return to Transgrid Discovery Hub at 3:30pm

    Site visits

    • Tetris Battery Storage Facility + Solar Farm: Insights on the project’s progress
    • Gregadoo Substation Works: See the Wagga 330kV Substation
    • Transgrid Tower Construction: Meet the landholder and observe tower erection on three adjoining holdings as part of Project EnergyConnect
    • Lockhart Camp: See the temporary construction camp and laydown area
    • Transmission Towers: See towers at various stages of construction
    • Bomen Solar Farm: Meet the host landholder and learn about the operations of this fully functional solar farm
    About the skills development workshop + trainers

    Renewable energy infrastructure projects face increased community concern and opposition. As we have seen internationally and now in Australia, unless there is genuine engagement and communication with the community, this can create project delays and challenges.

    This training will focus on how to understand and respond meaningfully to community concerns. The training will cover Peter Sandman’s theory of risk communication and how to apply it to your own renewable energy project and infrastructure planning, providing engagement strategies that aim to reduce outrage while addressing the underlying community concerns. Real case studies will be used to illustrate, these concepts in practice.

    Kelly Parkinson
    Risk Communication Specialist

    Michael Willis
    Strategic Engagement Manager
    AusNet Services

    Kelly Parkinson, Risk Communication Specialist, brings rich experience to this training which includes working internationally with the community on their concerns about a range of projects, including:

    • The placement of mobile phone base stations/towers in suburban and rural communities
    • Major controversial infrastructure projects such as coal and lithium mines and LNG gas facilities
    • Health controversies for the dairy industry and sugar industry
    • Transmission and renewable energy projects.

    Kelly will be supported by Michael Willis, Strategic Engagement Manager at AusNet Services, as well as the Energy Charter team to work through group exercises and case studies.

    About the facilitator

    Wendy Agar of Engaged Outcomes will weave the training together for our group.

    Wendy is a rural engagement expert, dedicating the past 30 years to securing industry, organisational and community buy-in for a range of projects that create opportunities for rural, regional and remote Australians. She has a deep understanding of how people and organisations work, and a passion for empowering people to support stronger communities where the economic and social benefits are shared.

    Her extensive experience in bringing diverse interests together is backed by qualifications in education, business and human resources, with accreditations in stakeholder engagement, change management and behavioural profiling. She knows what it takes to connect with people in a real way, and has deep regional networks and industry connections that support her mission – to achieve Engaged Outcomes.

    Wendy Agar
    CEO
    Engaged Outcomes

    Training locations

    Day 1, 2 and 3 Training Location - Transgrid Discovery Hub, Wagga Wagga

    All training days will either be held at, or start at, the Transgrid Discovery Hub at 27 Kincaid St, Wagga Wagga NSW 2650.

    The Transgrid Discovery Hub recently opened on 16 April 2024, offering a consistent and accessible point of connection with the Wagga Wagga community, landowners, and businesses in the surrounding areas. This innovative shopfront provides visitors with an inviting, space to engage with Transgrid and access information about our energy vision, major projects, operations, and community-based activities, all tailored to highlight the crucial role Wagga Wagga plays in the energy transition, and the opportunities this presents for the community.

    Day 3 Training Locations - Full day bus excursion

    There will be some walking involved from the bus to each site, this is expected to be around 500 metres and on flat but uneven terrain. We will be going onto landholder sites – please wear hiking or safety boots and bring a High Vis vest. If you do not have a High Vis vest, please email awhitehouse@salesassured.com.au.

    Safety and induction procedures will be held on the bus prior to the visits, please note hot beverages may not be consumed on the bus.

    Transport options

    There are a limited number of direct flights daily to and from Melbourne (Rex) and Sydney (Rex and Qantas). For other locations, you will need to fly via Sydney.

    Day 1 on Monday, 2 September 2024 will start at 2pm AEST to allow for travel time in the morning.

    From To venue
    Flight from Sydney to Wagga Wagga
    80 minutes
    Flight from Melbourne to Wagga Wagga (direct)

    *note only one direct flight each day at 12:20pm.
    There is one direct return flight to Melbourne at 4:35pm each day.
    80 minutes
    Drive from Sydney to Transgrid Discovery Hub
    5 hours
    Drive from Melbourne to Transgrid Discovery Hub
    5 hours
    Regional train from Sydney to Wagga Wagga
    6 hours
    Regional train from Melbourne to Wagga Wagga
    5 hours 10 minutes
    Wagga Wagga train station to Transgrid Discovery Hub
    6 min taxi / 28 min walk
    Wagga Wagga airport to Transgrid Discovery Hub
    14 min taxi

    Accommodation options

    Hotel suggestions Distance from training venue Approx. cost
    Mantra Pavilion Hotel Wagga Wagga
    1 min walk
    $219 – $249 per night
    Prince of Wales Motel
    2 min walk
    $174 – $219 per night
    The Houston Wagga
    2 min walk
    $192 – $346 per night
    Quest Wagga Wagga
    7 min walk
    $269 per night
    Wagga RSL Club Motel
    13 min walk / 2 min drive
    $179 – $189 per night
    Civic Apartments Wagga
    14 min walk / 3 min drive
    $140 – $190 per night
    Centralpoint Motel and Apartments
    15 min walk / 3 min drive
    $129 – $159 per night
    Carlyle Suites & Apartments
    16 min walk / 3 min drive
    $159 – $219 per night

    Payment options

    You can pay for the National Landholder Engagement Training via credit card or invoice. To select either of these payment options, go to the registration page and continue along to ‘Payment’ and select from the options.

    Training support

    Anne Whitehouse

    Support Service – Sales Assured

    E: awhitehouse@salesassured.com.au

    M: 0412 206 621 (please text for on-day support)

    The Energy Charter Team

    Training Coordination

    E: director@theenergycharter.com.au

    Wagga Wagga is part of the Traditional lands of Wiradjuri people. We acknowledge Wiradjuri people as Traditional Custodians of the land on which we will gather, and pay respects to their Elders past and present.