Capturing the benefits of Queensland's renewable energy will be on the agenda tomorrow in Mackay, at the third Mackay-Isaac-Whitsunday 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.
"Mackay-Isaac-Whitsunday 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 Mackay 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 Mackay-Isaac Whitsunday region 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 Regional Development and Manufacturing and Minister for Water Glenn Butcher and Minister for the Environment and the Great Barrier Reef and Minister for Science and Youth Affairs Meaghan Scanlon will join Mackay-Isaac-Whitsunday forum members in Mackay.
Member for Mackay Julieanne Gilbert will once again chair the forum.
Tomorrow's forum will begin with site visits to the Mackay Substation Project and Resources Centre of Excellence where forum members will learn more about the Stage 2: Future Industries Hub, which will position the centre to support the new economy minerals sector.
The forum agenda also includes a presentation on the Queensland Housing Strategy by the Department of Communities, Housing and Digital Economy.
Ms Gilbert said the last forum discussions had centred around regional data trends, sustainable and resilient infrastructure opportunities and building the liveability of the region to address skills shortages.
"Discussions across forum rounds have provided the foundations for the development of the Mackay-Isaac-Whitsunday forum action plan," Ms Gilbert said.
"Over the past two months, forum members have been working to finalise their plan and split into working groups to kickstart some of the initiatives outlined in partnership with the Queensland Government.
"The third forum for 2022 will allow working groups to provide an update on the work happening to bring the forum action plan to life in partnership with the Queensland Government.
"It will also allow forum members to discuss other regional priority areas such as workforce attraction and retention."
The Mackay-Isaac-Whitsunday forum is one of seven to be held in regional centres across Queensland tomorrow, with others taking place in Far North Queensland, Central Queensland, Darling Downs-South West, North-North West Queensland, Wide Bay-Burnett-Fraser Coast 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.
