Agricultural
21 October, 2024
Government seeking feedback on renewables
Amidst changes to regulations and community engagement requirements, the Queensland Government is seeking feedback on its approach to renewable energy projects.
Queensland is now over half way to the 2030 renewable energy target, with renewables generating over 27 per cent of Queensland’s energy needs.
From over 1,000 conversations during the REZ readiness assessment for the anticipated Callide Renewable Energy Zone in Central Queensland, locals showed that regional communities want greater engagement, accessible advice, real choices, clearer information, protection of high-quality agricultural land and greater tangible benefits from the clean energy transition.
New frameworks aim to ensure local knowledge shapes where and how the next phase of renewable energy projects are built to not only reach targets, but protect what matters to locals and deliver lasting benefits to communities.
The updated Wind Code, released at the end of September, includes enhanced protection for areas of high ecological and biodiversity value identification and assessment of viable haulage routes from the outset, clear rehabilitation requirements and expectations and investigation into the impact of construction on local workforces and accommodation.
The Queensland Farmers’ Federation and Darling Downs Environment Council have both welcomed the changes.
The proposed framework, The Draft Renewables Regulatory Framework,includes current and proposed initiatives in 5 key areas. They are:
enhanced environmental outcomes
effective community participation
easy access to information
enduring landholder protections
efficient industry facilitation
To view the framework and to find a summary of its initiatives, visit www.energyandclimate.qld.gov.au/energy/community
Feedback is invited on four questions, which are:
Do these initiatives effectively contribute to the desired objectives including enhanced environmental outcomes, effective community participation, easy access to information, enduring landholder protections, and efficient industry facilitation?
What potential challenges do you foresee in the implementation of these initiatives, and what strategies or solutions could help address them?
Are there any important issues or gaps that these initiatives have not yet addressed?
Do you have any specific feedback or suggestions regarding any particular initiative?
Feedback can be emailed to renewablesframework@epw.qld.gov.au
Consultation is open until 11.59pm on 6 December 2024.
