A total revamp of the nation’s energy infrastructure is one of the biggest challenges facing our generation according to Professor Bev Ronalds who delivered the 2011 annual National Trust CY O’Connor Lecture, Energy that doesn’t cost the earth.

The leading CSIRO researcher provided an overview of Australia’s energy demands in an intriguing context inspired by CY O’Connor who as Engineer in Chief for Western Australia from 1891 until his death, was responsible for major infrastructure projects such as the Eastern Railway, Fremantle Harbour, and the Goldfields Water Supply.