HUNDREDS of voters were expected to attend an energy forum scheduled to be held at Lazenby Hall last night.
Five candidates vying for the seat of New England in the July 2 federal election were scheduled to speak, including Philip Cox, Mercurius Goldstein, David Mailer, Rob Taber and Tony Windsor.
The event was organised by Starfish Enterprises and Sustainable Living Armidale, to discuss energy futures for the electorate.
“Energy is one of the big policy issues for the New England,” Starfish Initiatives spokesman Adam Blakester said.
“It is a disruptive era for energy, particularly electricity, with profound technological advances in energy efficiency, building design, energy management, on-site power generation and now storage.”
Forum
partners include the Australian Wind Alliance, Australian Youth Climate Coalition New England, Community Power Agency, Farming the Sun, GetUp!, New England Climate Action Group, New England Wind, Solar Citizens, TUNE FM and Voices of New England.
Youth climate coalition spokeswoman Sarita Perston said it was important for first-time voters to hear from candidates about their vision for an energy-efficient future.
One of the guest speakers tipped to speak at the forum was Armidale GP Astrid Knirsch.
She co-wrote an open letter with and Sujata Allen and endorsed by Doctors for the Environment Australia calling for action on climate change.
Fifty two doctors, nurses and health workers in Armidale have signed the letter.
“We want to ensure health is protected through real action on climate change,” Dr Knirsch said yesterday.
“New England will be subject increasingly to extreme weather events with impacts through bushfires, foodborne infectious diseases, increases in air pollution and mental health.
“More frequent heatwaves lead to higher rates of dehydration, heart failure, hospital admissions and death.
“We are already affected by
climate change and need to take it seriously.”
