According to its agenda released on May 25, the conference at Lithgow Uniting Church on June 3 will focus on a clean energy future and plans to support Lithgow and other coal mining communities through the change. 

Conservation Council CEO Kate Smolski said Lithgow sat at the sharp end of the transformation within the energy sector, with the closure of Wallerawang Power Station in 2014. 

“We have been urging the NSW Government to work with Lithgow and other coal communities to ensure they are supported during the clean-energy transition,” she said.

“Society as a whole will benefit from a 100 per cent renewable energy system, so the broader community has a responsibility to support places like Lithgow through the change.”

The conference will also address the impacts of mining on nature in the Central West, and explore the implication of the NSW Government’s new tree-clearing laws.

Lithgow Environment Group spokesperson Julie Favell said the changes within the mining sector were unsettling but offered opportunities as well to use the skills and infrastructure to build a sustainable future. 

“This community could be a leader in renewable technologies, and there are tremendous opportunities to expand the tourism industry in this region, which has amazing natural and historical destinations nearby,” she said. 

The NSW Regional Environment Conference is being hosted by the NSW Nature Conservation Council and Lithgow Environment Group. It is open to the public and provides an opportunity for conservationists across the region to share experiences and develop strategies to tackle key threats.

To attend the conference, visit https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/2017-regional-conference-tickets-33513236994 for tickets.