In case you missed it, last week the Queensland Government announced significant proposed changes to the planning and approvals framework for renewables.
The proposed changes will be implemented primarily through the Planning (Social Impact and Community Benefit) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025.
Here’s a topline summary of what’s happening:
- The main aim is to introduce a community benefit system into the Queensland Planning Framework for renewable energy development
- The Bill will align large-scale solar with wind development by making applications impact assessable, with solar farms to also be assessed by the State Government against a new State Code
- These changes are proposed to be retrospectively applied to development applications (excluding minor changes) already in the system.
What do the proposed changes mean for renewable energy clients in Queensland?
Should the proposed changes be adopted as currently proposed…
Applications for solar farms:
- will be impact assessable (which introduces public notification and submitter appeal rights)
- must be prepared addressing draft State Code 26: Solar farm development
- must be supported by a Social Impact Assessment (SIA) Report and an executed Community Benefit Agreement (CBA) with the local government, prior to lodging the development application
- currently under assessment will be deemed not properly made and require resubmission in accordance with the above requirements.
Applications for wind farms:
- will have no changes to level of assessment, assessment manager (State Government) or assessment benchmarks
- must be supported by a SIA Report and a CBA executed with the local government, prior to lodging the development application
- currently under assessment will be sent back to re-start the assessment in accordance with the above requirements.
The proposed changes will undergo consultation through May and June (further details can be provided).
There’s quite a lot to unpack here. The great news is, we have you covered. We can advise and support you with the planning and assessment requirement for renewable energy projects in Queensland including delivering SIAs and supporting CBAs that are tailored and fit-for-purpose.
Now is the perfect time to connect with our Environment Planning and Assessment experts in Brisbane. Chris Adamson, Christopher Lee and our team are here to help. Reach out via our enquiry form.
