By HARRY CLARKE
COUNCIL representatives within Queensland’s renewable energy zones have joined calls for the Federal Government to release the findings of a key document aimed to bolster reforms around the development of renewable energy infrastructure.
The Community Engagement Review, announced in July last year by climate change and energy minister Chris Bowen, promised to provide advice on the best way to maximise engagement and benefit for impacted communities in the planning, development and operation of renewables infrastructure .
The review was led by Australian Energy Infrastructure Commissioner (AEIC) Andrew Dyer and aimed to improve how affected communities were engaged with in regard to landholder concerns and to ensure transparency in planning processes, among other factors.
“The government is working with states, territories, communities, market bodies, and energy companies to ensure community consultation on new energy infrastructure isn’t just a tick-a-box exercise,” Bowen said when announcing the review.
“Our reforms are focused on giving better information to landholders and communities about their rights, involving communities earlier and more effectively, and properly handling any complaints.”
The review was presented to the Federal Government in December and is yet to be made public.
Nationals leader and shadow agriculture minister David Littleproud said he was now seeking access to the report under the Freedom of Information Act, accusing Bowen of “hiding behind secrecy”.
“Disclosure of the review is crucial because it’s about the future of our farming communities and how this will impact the price of food,” he said.
“The review looks at the impact on agricultural land and farmers, the treatment and rights of landowners and regional communities for renewable energy projects including wind turbines, solar panels, hydrogen and transmission lines.”
“We need to know how much productive agricultural land is earmarked, where is it earmarked and when … the projects (will) be forced onto local communities.”
A spokesperson for Bowen confirm the AEIC review had been received late last year, telling the Caller a report would be released “shortly once the government has considered the report findings”.
“The Opposition spent 10 years trying to stall the transformation to a cheaper, cleaner, more reliable energy system and failed to make the necessary reforms to improve how our nation building energy projects are rolled out in communities.
“The Albanese Government is taking a different approach by working with communities, jurisdictions and the sector to get it right.”
The Caller last year reported how councils in the Goondiwindi and Southern Downs regions were concerned renewable energy development was having a “net-negative” impact in their communities as they strained under increased housing, employment and infrastructure pressures brought on by development.
Goondiwindi mayor Lawrence Springborg, whose local government area is home to the mega $2 billion, 360-turbine MacIntyre wind farm currently under construction, said recommended improvements to community engagement processes needed to be made public “as soon as possible”.
“It’s critically important to ensure that people have confidence in the process and to also know that the authorities and officials have listened to the them, because there are some very real deficiencies in the way that the renewable energy targets have been rolled out and the lack of consideration around impact and appropriate planning,” he said.
Calls were echoed by Western Downs and Barcaldine mayors Paul McVeigh and Sean Dillon, whose councils fall within the Queensland Government’s official “Renewable Energy Zones”.
“If we are going to achieve what the state and federal governments want us to achieve in the renewable energy space and carbon mitigation, we need to understand and help support our community and those landowners that will be hosts (to renewable projects),” McVeigh said.
“To understand what the needs are we need to see what’s in the report.”
Mayor Sean Dillon said: “There is opportunity within renewable energy for regional Queensland if it’s handled right. It’s got to be done in a way that supports sensitive economic development and doesn’t preclude exisiting development such as agriculture”.
“If the government’s findings in a review are pointing towards a lack of appetite, then they have to do a lot of work explaining how meeting these ambitious targets are not going to be met with a wave of outrage in the areas that have been designated by scientists as the most advantageous for renewable energy,” he said.