Dr Boyd Blackwell, Principal Research Leader (Enduring Community Value from Mining) presented to the New England Energy Forum hosted by Starfish Enterprises at an almost full house at UNE’s Lazenby Hall on Tuesday night, 21 June. Lou Conway, Jim McFarlane, Richard Stayner, and other UNEBS and UNE Academics and students were also in attendance.

Blackwell’s thesis, presented in a speedy 4 minute talk, encompasses a need for a legislated change to help protect prime agricultural land from coal mine expansion through Agricultural Protected Areas (APA), such as in the Liverpool Plains.

He also raised the point that Australia was only utilizing around 25% of market opportunities to help with the transition to a sustainable energy future and the global need to address the insatiable and Leviathan demand for coal by our Asian neighbours.

Six energy leaders from economics (Blackwell), medicine (Knirsch), community action (Flint), engineering (Blanksby), and social finance and science (Hicks) backgrounds presented along with targeted commentary from six New England candidates including Windsor, Taber, Cox, Goldstein, Ewings and Mailler.

Attendees asked poignant questions of candidates and voted interactively through their mobile phones with results presented instantly on the main presentation screens.

The forum was a success for all, reflected in some excellent social media commentary covered by John Engleart for Storify.

More details on the enduring community value from mining program can be found on the CRC-Rep website, or contacting Dr Blackwell directly via email or phone: 02 6773 3279.