Greater Bendigo's Lockwood ward candidates will kick off the first "meet the candidates" forum on Thursday, with Whipstick's to follow Sunday and Eppalock's on Thursday week.

The next council will likely make important decisions helping drive down the region's emissions, co-organiser and Bendigo Sustainability Group member Colin Lambie said.

"We have put out a survey ahead of the forums that will tell us about their positions on the mainstream science of climate change," he said.

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The forums would also be a chance for candidates to talk in depth about any vision they have, Mr Lambie said.

"Waste will be a big issue. Eaglehawk has a limited time before its closed and there will be challenges around where all that waste is going to go, and the cost of that," he said.

Council workers have already started work on a "circular economy" plan that would see more waste reused and processed.

Expressions of interest have gone out for firms that might be able to take a greater load of goods for recycling into the future.

Mr Lambie said future councillors would likely need innovative ideas and plans to deal with a warmer future including work with businesses, community groups and other levels of government.

That could include transport and sustainable approaches to energy use.

The free forums are being organised by the Bendigo Sustainability Group, Bike Bendigo and Commoners Co-Op.

People can visit the sustainability group's Facebook page to register to watch the forums live.

The Lockwood Ward forum begins at 7pm on Thursday, Whipstick's at 7.30pm Sunday and Eppalock's at 7.30pm Thursday week.

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