Regional communities across Australia are invited to take part in a free online briefing exploring how well planned renewable energy projects can deliver lasting housing benefits.
Hosted by RE-Alliance, a not-for-profit working for more than a decade with regional communities at the centre of Australia’s shift to renewable energy, the webinar will show how regions are responding to housing pressures created by major infrastructure projects such as wind, solar, batteries and transmission, and turning those challenges into opportunities.
The briefing on Tuesday 17 February 2026 will draw on findings in a new report by RE-Alliance, which explores innovative approaches to temporary worker accommodation being planned and delivered in ways that support long-term regional housing needs.
RE-Alliance National Director Andrew Bray said housing is one of the most pressing issues facing regional communities hosting renewable energy projects:
“This briefing will demonstrate how well planned renewable energy projects can help grow regional housing, not strain it.
“The key theme we’ve uncovered through this work is that it’s crucial for governments, industry and communities to plan early and work together to ensure positive outcomes.
“We’ll show how temporary workers’ accommodation is being designed for conversion into permanent homes, how unused buildings are being refurbished to house temporary workers, and how strategic planning approaches can leave a positive, local legacy long after construction crews move on,” Andrew Bray said.
The online briefing will feature guest speakers outlining case studies from regional New South Wales (Wellington), Victoria (Wimmera Southern Mallee) and Queensland (Toowoomba), discussing what support is needed from all levels of government and industry to turn short-term accommodation demand into lasting regional housing benefits.
Briefing details:
Date: Tuesday, 17 February 2026
Time: 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm AEDT
Format: Online (Zoom) — RSVP via the RE-Alliance website to receive the link
This briefing is ideal for regional councillors, community leaders, housing advocates, developers and residents interested in sustainable growth and housing security in their towns and regions.
About the report:
The RE-Alliance report ‘How Australia’s shift to renewable energy can deliver beneficial outcomes for regional housing’ details how well planned renewable energy projects can help grow housing supply in regional areas rather than contribute to shortages. It presents community-led case studies where temporary accommodation infrastructure is designed with legacy housing outcomes in mind, and calls for clearer planning frameworks and stronger partnerships between communities, councils and developers.
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For media inquiries and interview requests please contact Kitty Walker on 0438900117 or [email protected]