A review of the requirements for wind farm developments in Queensland, Australia, has got underway.
The review of the Wind Farm Code (State Code 23) and its accompanying guidelines will aim to build greater community and industry confidence in clean energy projects, the state government said.
State Code 23 already includes requirements aimed at ensuring wind farms are designed and operated to minimise adverse impacts on the natural environment, ecological processes, visual amenity, air services, transport networks and noise levels.
The Wind Farm Code and accompanying guidelines will be reviewed to better protect areas of high ecological and biodiversity value; protect the Great Barrier Reef from the impact of construction; and identify and assess viable haulage routes upfront.
It also aims to bring acoustic criteria into line with current best practice approaches; highlight rehabilitation requirements and expectations; and require proponents to investigate the impact their construction will have on local workforces and accommodation.
The State Code guideline will be amended to reflect these changes and to provide clarity on how to frame and support applications, to align with the code, the state government said.
Under Queensland’s current planning laws, the state government already assesses all wind farm applications through its State Assessment and Referral Agency (SARA).
SARA has assessed and approved a number of wind farms in Queensland in recent years, but the rollout of the Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan means more opportunities are being presented, than ever before.
The proposed changes are open for community consultation on Monday 7 August and will be open until Monday 4 September.
Deputy Premier Steven Miles said: “The Sunshine State is leading the renewable energy revolution and wind farms are helping power this transformation.
“Queensland has some of the world’s best wind resources that can be harnessed to power hundreds of thousands of homes with cleaner and cheaper energy.
“Our Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan will unlock more investment and economic growth and generate more good jobs in our regions than ever before.
“To support this progress, we need clear and predictable regulatory frameworks.
“The Palaszczuk government committed to a review of the planning framework for renewable energy development and we are delivering on it.
“We have listened to the community, and worked with other government agencies, local councils and stakeholders to establish the issues to be addressed in the review.
“Wind farms in Queensland already undergo a thorough assessment process.
“This review is designed to strengthen those protections for communities and the environment, while creating certainty and clarity for industry with clearer benchmarks for managing environmental and construction impacts.”