FAQs

No. The Queensland Government is the decision-maker for all wind and large-scale solar farm development approvals through the State Assessment and Referral Agency (SARA). Under the new legislation, Council has no authority to approve, reject, or influence the outcome of a wind or large-scale solar farm development application.

A solar farm is classed as large-scale when it either:

• Reaches an energy generation of 1 megawatt (MW) or more, and or 
• the solar panels and mounting structures occupy two or more hectares of land.

Development applications for large-scale solar farms that meet or exceed this threshold are impact assessable and are determined by the Queensland Government’s State Assessment and Referral Agency (SARA).

Small solar farms – producing less than 1 megawatt (MW) of power and occupying less than two hectares of land – are generally code assessable and determined by Council’s planning team in line with the current local Planning Scheme.

To help put this into perspective, 1 MW of energy is enough to power roughly 250 to 300 average Australian households.

No. Under the new State legislation, Council cannot formally support or oppose a wind or large-scale solar farm project. Instead, Council’s legal role is to negotiate a Community Benefit Agreement (CBA) with the developer, ensuring local communities share in the benefits if a wind or large-scale solar farm is approved by the State.

A Community Benefit Agreement (CBA) is a formal agreement between the renewable energy developer and relevant local Council(s). It sets out what the community will receive in return for hosting the wind or large-scale solar farm.

A CBA may include:

• Annual payments into a community fund managed by Council.
• Funding for infrastructure development and upgrades.
• Funding to support community facility development and upgrades.
• Sponsorships for local events, clubs and community groups.
• Funding to support social or environmental initiatives.

A CBA does not cover:

• Council rates for the wind farm facility – like all other businesses in the region, the wind farm operator will pay these separately once the project is operational.
• State or local infrastructure charges and environmental/social conditions.
• Lease payments made to landowners hosting turbines or off-set benefits provided to neighbouring properties (these are private agreements outside of Council).

The level of assessment for a development application is determined by the scale and anticipated impact a project may have on the local community or environment. Larger, higher-impact projects must go through a more extensive approval process - including public notification and community input – while smaller projects follow simpler rules.

An impact assessable development – which includes wind and large-scale solar farms - is one that requires a higher level of review, including:

• Public notification.
• Opportunity for the public to make submissions.
• More rigorous assessment of social, environmental and other impacts.

An impact assessment considers how a proposed development may affect a particular area, and allows local views to be heard through submissions (whether in support or opposition).

Code assessable projects are generally smaller and simpler, with minimal expected impact. They’re assessed against a set standard of rules in line with Council’s current Planning Scheme. These development applications are not required to be publicly advertised.

Yes. Once a wind or large-scale solar farm is built, operational and officially valued, operators pay rates to Council like all other major facilities in the region. Landowners hosting renewable energy infrastructure continue paying their normal rates in line with their existing / relevant rating category (e.g. agricultural use or residential).

The process can take several years in total and has multiple stages:

1. The developer studies the site and designs a proposal.
2. A Social Impact Assessment (SIA) is complete by the developer, which includes community engagement with close by residents to understand impacts.
3. A Community Benefit Agreement (CBA) is negotiated through Council.
4. The developer lodges a formal application to the State.
5. State agencies assess the project and conditions.
6. Public notification and submissions occur.
7. State decides whether to approve, approve with conditions, or refuse the development application.

If approved, construction begins, followed by ongoing monitoring and reporting.

Wind farms and large-scale solar farms are impact assessable by the State, this means you can:

• Make a submission during the public notification period.
• In some cases, exercise legal appeal rights on decisions or conditions.

More information can be found on the Queensland Government website: https://www.planning.qld.gov.au/planning-issues-and-interests/renewable-energy.