The Queensland Renewable Energy Council has welcomed the Crisafulli Government’s proposal to make future renewable energy projects subject to mandatory community consultation.

QREC Chief Executive Officer Katie-Anne Mulder said the Council had recommended to the Crisafulli Government and the previous Miles Government to make community consultation, including with local governments, mandatory for the planning application and assessment process.

Industry expects an open and transparent relationship with government, including on ensuring a comprehensive, efficient, and predictable assessment framework that meets community expectations.

Ms Mulder said the implementation of the community engagement requirement should be part of the whole of government consultation process with the Crisafulli Government on its Draft Renewables Regulatory Framework.  Responses to the discussion paper are due on 1 February.

“QREC members know the importance of community consultation and we have been working with other stakeholders, including in agriculture and local government, to prepare a Renewable Energy Landholder and Community Engagement Toolkit to ensure we have strong relations with the communities and stakeholders where renewable energy projects are proposed,” she said.

“QREC also strongly supports the Crisafulli Government’s commitment to a Developer Code of Conduct that would set out what good engagement looks like, so expectations on developers are in black and white.”

“Queensland remains a national leader in strengthening relationships through the establishment of Coexistence Queensland, with bipartisan support, last year.”

QREC is seeking a meeting with the Queensland Government along with other renewable energy industry stakeholders to confirm the process announced by the Deputy Premier to ensure the pipeline of projects continues to progress with confidence.

“We welcome the Deputy Premier’s support for the renewables sector and that Queensland ‘is open for business’.”

Ms Mulder said those developers and investors affected by the Deputy Premier’s decision to seek more information about four wind farm projects will work collaboratively with government to find a timely way forward.

See link to Draft Renewables Regulatory Framework discussion paper consultation Community feedback on renewable energy | Energy and Climate

See Deputy Premier’s media statement

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