POWER OF COMMUNITY presenter
Photo courtesy of Renewable Newstead
Geoff Park will speak about Renewable Newstead, a pioneering community-led initiative demonstrating how a small regional town can transition to renewable energy in a way that is technically feasible, commercially viable, and socially equitable. Located in central Victoria, Newstead has delivered a 3MW solar farm and 5MWh battery system capable of generating six times the town’s electricity needs. The project stands as a model for how local leadership, strong partnerships, and deep community engagement can drive meaningful energy transformation.
GEOFF PARK
Geoff Park is a Director of Natural Decisions, an interdisciplinary consulting company concerned with all aspects of environmental decision-making. In recent times he has led a diverse range of consultancies on water quality improvement planning for the Great Barrier Reef, climate change vulnerability assessment, environmental priority setting and cost: benefit analysis, integrated assessment of bushfire risk and threatened species management. He has worked extensively across all agro-ecological regions in Australia over the past ten years. From 1998 -2013 Geoff worked in various roles with Victoria’s North Central Catchment Management Authority, his last seven years as a Knowledge Broker, where as part of the Future Farm Industries CRC he worked with a small research team exploring the development and application of INFFER, awarded the Australian Research Council 2009 Eureka Prize for excellence in interdisciplinary research.
At a community scale Geoff has been involved with Newstead 2021 Inc., established in 2008 to support the development of a vibrant, informed and sustainable community in our town and surrounds. As part of N2021 he has worked collaboratively across projects including community planning, the arts, recreation and renewable energy, including Renewable Newstead, which aims to transition Newstead to 100% renewable energy through an innovative model for local generation and distribution of power. Geoff is a dedicated natural historian, ‘birder’ and nature photographer and curator of the Natural Newstead blog.
Geoff has a B.Sc (Honours) from Melbourne University, majoring in Zoology and Genetics, a Diploma Education from Melbourne State College and is an honorary research fellow at the University of Melbourne. He has a long standing interest and involvement with communities working to improve biodiversity conservation in agricultural landscapes. Geoff is a trustee with the Wettenhall Environment Trust, a philanthropic organisation that supports projects to enhance the vitality and diversity of the Australian natural living environment. He is currently a member of the Victorian Catchment Management Council.
EVENT INFO
POWER OF COMMUNITY - Yarrayne / Guildford
DATES 12-14 March 2026
LOCATION Yarrayne / Guildford on Dja Dja Wurrung Country in the Victorian Central Goldfields region. The Friday main seminar day will be at the Guildford Public Hall, 32 Fryers St, Guildford Victoria
CPD 6 formal points available on the Friday. Delegates can make their own assessment for informal CPD for fringe events attended.
