New rules for solar farms
Government introduces guidelines
NEW State Government guidelines will help communities have their say in the next phase of Queensland’s solar farm boom.
Speaking from Yarranlea near Toowoomba on Thursday, where a 100 megawatt solar farm is under construction, Energy Minister Dr Anthony Lynham said the new Queensland Solar Farm Guidelines responded to calls from regional communities and industry for certainty.
“These guidelines are a clear checklist for local governments about what’s needed for sustainable, community and industry-led large-scale solar development,” Dr Lynham said.
“Over the past three years Queensland has seen an unprecedented wave of renewable energy investment with the construction of 13 large scale solar projects from Lakeland in the far north to Dalby in the south-west,” he said.
“This has brought $1.3 billion in investment and almost 1500 construction jobs to Queensland, and more than 650 megawatts of renewable energy to the grid.”
With more projects to come, Dr Lynham said it was essential for all parties to work together.
“For traditional owners, communities and landholders the guidelines outline approval processes, technical and environmental considerations, ways to give feedback, information on the stages of solar development and what a new solar project can mean for a community,” he said.
“For industry, these guidelines provide a one-stop-shop guide on navigating government development approvals, expectations about best practice to engage the local community, location guidance and the legal framework which governs solar farm developments.”
Minister for State Development, Manufacturing, Infrastructure and Planning Cameron Dick said the guidelines would assist local government to support the growing renewable energy industry.
“The guidelines support Queensland local governments to plan and regulate proposed solar farm development appropriately, to ensure potential impacts are balanced against the jobs and economic activity they may bring,” Mr Dick said.