{"id":203279,"date":"2018-03-07T13:07:00","date_gmt":"2018-03-07T03:07:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=203279"},"modified":"2020-08-06T12:28:33","modified_gmt":"2020-08-06T02:28:33","slug":"new-guidelines-for-solar-farms","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2018\/03\/07\/new-guidelines-for-solar-farms\/","title":{"rendered":"New Guidelines For Solar Farms"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a>
The State Government is developing new planning and community engagement guidelines for solar farms (Photo: Origin Energy)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Energy Minister Dr Anthony Lynham<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

March 7, 2018<\/strong><\/p>\n

The State Government is developing new planning and community engagement guidelines for solar farms, and intends to finalise them later this year.<\/p>\n

Energy Minister Dr Anthony Lynham said with 17 large-scale solar farms under construction across the state and another 40-plus potentials, specific planning guidelines were needed.<\/p>\n

“We are becoming the solar energy state,” Dr Lynham said.<\/p>\n

“In just the past 16 months, five new solar projects have started operating at Barcaldine, Kidston, Lakeland, Normanton and Sunshine Coast.<\/p>\n

“Another 17 are under construction, offering more than 1200 megawatts of renewable energy and more than 2500 construction jobs.”<\/p>\n

Dr Lynham said large scale solar brings jobs and economic benefits for communities, but they can also bring their own set of planning challenges.<\/strong><\/p>\n

“The right planning guidelines need to be in place to ensure communities, developers, councils and investors are all on the same page about what is best for Queensland,” he said.<\/p>\n

The new guidelines will inform and guide stakeholders, including councils, through the project development process, and ensure that projects meet their social licence to operate.<\/p>\n

Government officers have been working with local government, the Queensland Farmers Federation and other stakeholders to develop the new guidelines.<\/p>\n

Community forums will kick off from mid-April to provide information about the guidelines in the solar hot spots of Townsville, Dalby, Emerald, Mackay and Bundaberg.<\/strong><\/p>\n

State government planning and energy policy experts will be on hand to answer questions about the proposed guidelines, as well as solar farms and renewable energy in general.<\/p>\n

Public consultation on the new guidelines will open at 9:00am on Wednesday, March 14 via www.getinvolved.qld.gov.au<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n