{"id":151820,"date":"2016-07-15T18:43:23","date_gmt":"2016-07-15T08:43:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=151820"},"modified":"2020-10-09T15:53:54","modified_gmt":"2020-10-09T05:53:54","slug":"wind-farm-burden-lifted-from-councils","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2016\/07\/15\/wind-farm-burden-lifted-from-councils\/","title":{"rendered":"Wind Farm Burden Lifted From Councils"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The proposed Coopers Gap wind farm … a photomontage from Niagara Road looking west, taken from AGL’s Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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Deputy Premier Jackie Trad (Photo: ALP)<\/figcaption><\/figure> July 15, 2016<\/strong><\/p>\n

The State Government has released a planning code for wind farms, a move that could speed up approvals for AGL’s proposed venture at Coopers Gap<\/p>\n

Deputy Premier Jackie Trad said on Friday the new code – which will come into effect next week – would deliver “a consistent whole-of-government approach to assessing wind farm proposals”.<\/p>\n

As expected, the new code shifts responsibility for assessing projects from local Councils to the State Government.<\/p>\n

\u201cMost local government planning schemes do not cover wind farms, and many Councils don\u2019t have the specific technical expertise to assess such applications,\u201d Ms Trad said.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cWe have brought together national and international best practice, and expert advice, to lift the burden off councils and provide a consistent state-wide approach to assessing wind farm proposals through the State Assessment and Referral Agency (SARA).<\/p>\n

\u201cThe code sets out clear assessment requirements for the design, construction and operation of new or expanded wind farm proposals and is a big step forward in reaching our important target of 50 per cent renewable energy by 2030.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis code will provide much needed certainty to individuals and communities, as well as industry looking to invest in renewable energy production in Queensland in the future.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ms Trad said community feedback had “directly informed” the final code.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cThis code includes strict guidelines to address community concerns about health and safety issues, including acoustic management,\u201d Ms Trad said.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt also ensures that development does not unreasonably impact on the character, scenic amenity and landscape values of a location.\u201d<\/p>\n

The code includes guidelines relating to aviation safety, electromagnetic interference, shadow flicker, flora and fauna, traffic safety, stormwater management, construction management and acoustic amenity.<\/p>\n

The code does not apply to smaller turbines that are used for a domestic or rural use.<\/p>\n

The wind farm state code, and its supporting planning guideline, will come into effect next Friday.<\/p>\n