Why the Illawarra was chosen as the Net Zero Commission’s first stop

Commission executive director praises region's industrial links, clean tech growth and community drive for real change

Net Zero Commission executive director Will Rayward-Smith (inset) and his team was in Wollongong to meet stakeholders. earlier. this month. Pics supplied.

Heavy-hitters from industry, local government and the community were front and centre as the NSW Net Zero Commission undertook its first regional consultation to the Illawarra. It was a visit the Commission’s executive director Will Rayward-Smith described as “impressive, complex and crucial” in shaping future climate policy.

Over two days, the Commission met with councils, residents and major employers including BlueScope and clean tech innovator Hysata, in what Rayward-Smith described as “a real thirst to engage.”

“The Illawarra is a key region and it is absolutely important to us to listen to stakeholders as the Illawarra is going through an industrial transition,” he said. “We were very impressed by the inter-connectedness of the stakeholders and the community. The dependence of certain businesses on each other was really apparent.”