Solar farm guidelines roadshow

RESIDENTS are invited to have their say in Dalby tomorrow over the State Government’s new guidelines for the sustainable development of Queensland’s solar farm boom.

With 10 solar installations approved for the Western Downs, Mayor Paul McVeigh said communication between proponents and neighbours was key to the successful delivery of solar farms.

The region has had welldocumented issues with residents being left in the dark over solar farm proposals, and in the early rush of approvals they were sometimes unaware of the code-assessable projects which do not require public consultation, being proposed on neighbouring properties.

Cr McVeigh said the council had taken steps to ensure that no longer happened.

“When a proponent comes to us - we say to them they need to go out and discuss with some of the neighbours in the area they’re looking at,” Cr McVeigh said.

“Communication is very much key to the success of delivery of the solar farms.”

Energy Minister Anthony Lynham said the large-scale solar projects were great for jobs, but the right planning guidelines needed to be in place to “ensure communities, developers, councils and investors are all on the same page about what is best for Queensland”.

Dr Lynham said it was important that council planning schemes responded to solar development to help ensure that projects preserved the “social licence” the community gave them to operate.

State Government planning and energy policy experts will be on hand to answer questions about the proposed guidelines, as well as solar farms and renewable energy in general, at tomorrow’s forum.

The forum will start at 6pm at the Dalby Leagues Club, Orpen St, Dalby.

To register for the event click here.

Community invited to attend