Capturing the benefits of Queensland's renewable energy will be on the agenda tomorrow in Palm Cove, at the third Far North Queensland Regional Community Forum for 2022.
Leading up to this week's major energy announcement, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the forum would discuss ideas on sustainably powering the state into the future.
"Regional Queensland plays a big role in renewable energy, to drive down power bills and ease the cost of living," the Premier said.
"Far North Queensland forum members get to be part of this, helping to unlock investment in good clean energy jobs, better services, and helping to protect our great lifestyle in regional Queensland.
"During this third round of forums for 2022, forum members will visit sites that will help support further regional investment, and drive future energy security."
Regional services, economic diversification and housing accessibility will also be discussed in Palm Cove tomorrow.
"Regional Forums are about strengthening our Government's partnership with regional Queensland and a greater opportunity to influence government decision-making," the Premier said.
"Forum action plans which address the social and economic priorities of the Far North will be tabled tomorrow.
"I thank forum members for all the work they've been doing between forums and for the valuable contribution I know they'll provide during this third round of forums tomorrow."
Minister for Seniors and Disability Services and Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships Craig Crawford and Minister for Tourism, Innovation and Sport and Minister Assisting the Premier on Olympics and Paralympics Sport and Engagement Stirling Hinchliffe will join Far North Queensland forum members in Palm Cove, with Minister Crawford chairing the forum.
Assistant Minister for Tourism Industry Development and Member for Cairns Michael Healy, Member for Cook Cynthia Lui and Speaker of the House Curtis Pitt will also attend the forum.
Mr Healy said tomorrow's forum would begin with a site visit to Ergon Energy's $6 million world-class Microgrid and Isolated Systems Test (MIST) Facility.
"Regional Community Forum members will be invited to tour a regional energy asset, followed by an information session by Energy Queensland," he said.
"The day will also include panel sessions on economic diversification and regional service delivery, and a workshop on the Far North Queensland Regional Growth Framework which impacts on housing access and affordability."
Ms Lui said the last forum discussions had centred on similar topics, in addition to Path to Treaty.
"Far North Queensland has the unique position of being home to both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, so it is imperative reconciliation, and our First Nations peoples are at the forefront of discussions around our region's economic priorities," she said.
"Discussions across all forum rounds have provided the foundations for the development of the Far North Queensland forum action plan."
Mr Pitt said over the past two months, forum members had been finalising their forum action plan with working groups to kickstart some of the initiatives.
"It's been a productive time for forum members who have been initiating some exciting projects outlined in their forum action plan," he said.
"The third forum for 2022 will allow working groups to provide an update on their progress in bringing the plan to life in partnership with the Queensland Government."
The Far North Queensland forum is one of seven to be held in regional centres across Queensland tomorrow, with others taking place in Mackay-Isaac-Whitsunday, Wide Bay-Burnett-Fraser Coast, Central Queensland, Darling Downs-South West, North-North West Queensland and Western Queensland.
The Regional Community Forums are part of the Queensland Government's Advancing Queensland's Regions strategy, supported by the Office for Rural and Regional Queensland.
