The Queensland Renewable Energy Council (QREC) will work with the State Government to address concerns from both the energy and local government sectors regarding the proposed legislated timing for community benefits agreements (CBAs) for renewable energy projects.
Responding to the Queensland Parliamentary Committee report into the Planning (Social Impact and Community Benefit) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025 which was tabled today, QREC Chief Executive Officer Katie-Anne Mulder said that while a CBA between a renewable energy project proponent and the host local government is a welcome and necessary part of the process, it should not be required before a development application has been lodged.
The State Development, Infrastructure and Works Committee found:
“While there was broad support for a community benefit system, there were mixed views on the timing and mandatory nature of the requirements, particularly the need to prepare a social impact assessment and enter into a community benefit agreement prior to the lodgement of a development application…. However, the committee also heard from submitters from the renewable energy and local government sector, that the proposed timing was impractical and could result in unintended consequences.”
Ms Mulder said that requiring a CBA to be finalised prior to lodging a development application is inconsistent with the approvals processes for comparable industries, such as resources, agriculture and public infrastructure.
“QREC and its members are committed to working with local communities and councils through the planning phase and negotiating benefit agreements during the project assessment stage,” she said.
“As the Committee rightly highlighted, both energy and local government stakeholders noted that locking in an agreement before the project details are settled may be impractical and lead to unintended consequences.”
“There is a real risk that councils and communities could be left with a CBA for a project that is materially different — or may not proceed — once it has been through the full planning and environmental assessment processes of both the Queensland and Australian governments.”
Ms Mulder also noted that the proposed approach would benefit from better alignment with the State’s broader energy planning and significant projects development frameworks, to ensure consistency, certainty and long-term value for all parties.
As Queensland’s only renewable peak industry body, Queensland Renewable Energy Council (QREC) represents stakeholders across solar, wind, pumped hydro, electricity transmission, battery storage, and renewable fuels. QREC collaborates with industry, communities, and all levels of government to drive the growth of Queensland’s renewable energy sector.
For media enquires, please contact Katie-Anne Mulder on 0412 757 899