Policy revised to reflect renewable surge
AS part of the Central West Orana Renewable Energy Zone, Wellington’s rapid productivity in this area has led to Dubbo Regional Council’s development of a planning agreement policy for solar and wind farms.
The policy, which closed for public submissions on February 19, is aimed at encouraging voluntary Planning Agreements between council and energy farms, with a view to guiding strategic framework, community benefit programs and adding a road maintenance levy.
Council’s Director for Development and Environment Stephen Wallace said it is recommended that farms enter into a Planning Agreement with councils to ensure any developmental impacts are managed. He explained that a policy was not necessary to establish a planning agreement but that it would provide a framework for future agreements.
“A planning agreement is an agreement entered into by Council and a developer where the developer agrees to fund public amenities or infrastructure, dedicate land at no cost to council, provide monetary contributions or any other material public benefit for a public purpose.
“The role of the policy is to further explain and assist both development proponents and stakeholders of the importance of strategic planning through the planning agreement process,” he said.
The need for an amended policy is driven by revised council boundaries.
“There is an existing policy for solar energy farms located within the former Wellington Local Government Area,” Mr Wallace explained.
“The revised policy recommends that planning agreements apply to both solar energy farms and wind energy farms. It will also be updated to include all land within the Dubbo Regional Council Local Government Area, it won’t be defined by the old LGA boundaries.”
During the consultation period, Wellington resident Nat Barton made a submission to council stating his concerns about the policy making.
With a proposed $3350 per wind turbine paid to council per annum for applicable wind farms and $3500 per Mega Watt of Alternating Current [AC] installed capacity per annum from applicable solar energy farms, Mr Barton said the level and management of contribution needs to be fair, reasonable and affordable.
“I cannot think of any reason why wind or solar farm developers would pay to enter into a voluntary Planning Agreement,” he said.
“VPAS are not part of the EPA Act, they are not part of State Significant Planning Policy and they are not part of the planning regulations.”
Mr Barton believes that council needs to remain transparent to ensure payments made by developers are not misconstrued.
“VPAS are used often by proponents of renewable energy projects because they give clarity and certainty to the expenses that are likely to be incurred over the life of the project. They also provide a means by which proponents can gain a social licence to operate and broaden the economic base of the project. However, the benefits to the community are uncertain if they are used in an ad hoc and poorly targeted manner.
“From the documents I have seen, $3350 per tower per year looks remarkably like the amount the wind farm is paying landowners adjacent to neighbours hosting turbines who have to agree not to complain or sign petitions. They have no right to mention any concerns they have because they have given away those rights in the agreement they have entered into. I would hope that DRC has considered these factors before accepting the VPA money.”
So far, Council has entered into a total of four planning agreements with developers across the LGA.