{"id":348256,"date":"2024-05-17T18:39:28","date_gmt":"2024-05-17T08:39:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=348256"},"modified":"2024-05-17T18:43:30","modified_gmt":"2024-05-17T08:43:30","slug":"council-votes-for-moratorium","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2024\/05\/17\/council-votes-for-moratorium\/","title":{"rendered":"Council Votes For Moratorium"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a>
Panels at the Kingaroy Solar Farm erected by Mytilineos last year … the SBRC is calling for a moratorium on similar projects unless certain conditions are met<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
South Burnett Mayor Kathy Duff (Photo: Supplied)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

May 17, 2024<\/strong><\/p>\n

South Burnett Regional Council has called for a moratorium on renewable energy projects in the region unless certain conditions are met – and will ask other Wide Bay-Burnett councils to do likewise.<\/p>\n

SBRC councillors unanimously endorsed a motion put forward this week by Mayor Kathy Duff that a moratorium of all large-scale wind, solar, battery energy storage systems, pumped hydro and related transmission projects be imposed until:<\/p>\n

1.\u00a0 A bond is held from start of any renewables project with guaranteed finance in place to cover decommissioning and full project removal, disposal and rehabilitation costs at end-of-life;<\/em><\/p>\n

2. Appropriate regulations are in place to protect threatened and endangered species;<\/em><\/p>\n

3. Large-scale renewable projects be subject to full State Government approval processes and be made impact-assessable not code-assessable;<\/em><\/p>\n

4. An appropriate land access framework to protect the environment, cultural heritage, existing land users and local roads and infrastructure is established;<\/em><\/p>\n

5. Minimal impact upon existing ratepayers is negotiated;<\/em><\/p>\n

6. Australia’s food security is protected by prohibiting large-scale renewable projects on prime agricultural land; (See Paris Agreement Article 2 (1) (b));<\/em><\/p>\n

7. All large-scale renewable projects comply with the same regulations that apply to agriculture and mining;<\/em><\/p>\n

8. Large-scale renewable projects are added as a trigger to the EPBC Act;<\/em><\/p>\n

9. A mandatory code of conduct is established to govern the renewable energy sector and renewable energy proponents’ conduct with affected communities, including notifying the relevant Local Government of potential projects.<\/em><\/p>\n

10. Owners of large-scale renewable developments indemnify adjoining private landowners from any public liability risk;<\/em><\/p>\n

11. Where Local Government is the assessment agency, that appropriate mechanisms are incorporated in local government planning schemes to allow Council to apply conditions that protect local roads and infrastructure and other key assets.<\/em><\/p>\n

These positions will now be put forward for endorsement by the renewed Wide Bay Regional Organisation of Councils (WBBROC), which consists of the North Burnett, South Burnett, Cherbourg, Fraser Coast and Gympie councils.<\/p>\n

WBBROC is also now working again with former member Bundaberg Regional Council.<\/p>\n

Mayor Duff said she hoped a collective position could be taken forward when talking to both the State and Federal governments.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cRenewable projects are already impacting our communities and causing a lot of concern,” Mayor Duff said.<\/p>\n

“There needs to be proper planning and guidelines put in place to ensure that they are in places that have minimal impact on our region\u2019s environment and natural beauty, to protect our communities and particularly our agricultural industries that provide our food and fibre.\u201d<\/p>\n

Related articles:<\/strong><\/p>\n