By Jeremy Cook
Southern Downs Mayor Melissa Hamilton has insisted she will be a “strong advocate” for her region in Queensland’s increasingly divisive renewables transition.
In a statement to Warwick Stanthorpe Today, Mayor Hamilton called for a mandated “community benefit” contribution to be paid by renewable proponents directly to councils caught in the crosshairs of the state’s energy transition.
Under current Queensland laws, councils have no say in the approval process for renewable energy projects which have proven increasingly divisive for regional and rural communities.
“Like other councils across Queensland I want the Queensland Government to require proponents of renewable projects to make a ‘community benefit’ contribution directly to the local government,” she said.
Cr Hamilton said the contribution could yield tangible economic benefits “from any energy production in our area”.
“Queensland’s renewable energy transformation needs to come as a benefit to our region, not a detriment,” she said.
“I will be a strong advocate at regional and state level to ensure that the voice of our community is heard.
“There are important discussions to be had in terms of where these projects should be located and around the impacts on our housing market.
“We want to see conditions that ensure projects do not result in a lack of housing for local residents.”
Any future renewable developments will likely face strong opposition from some residents.
At community forums held in Allora and Greymare earlier this year, townies and farmers alike voiced a resounding “no” to potential wind farm projects.
A petition with more than 2000 signatures has since been launched by a Goomburra landholder, calling on the state government to “protect” the Southern Downs “against wind and solar farms”.
Petitioner Charles Starky, who also spoke at a wind forum at Allora in March, called on the government to “do all within its power to prevent any further development of current and future wind and solar projects” within the Southern Downs.
“Further projects threaten the very fabric of our rich agricultural heritage, food security, as well as disrupting our delicate ecosystems, native fauna and flora, and the burgeoning eco-tourism for the region,” Mr Starky wrote.
“Wind and solar projects will also diminish the quality of life of local residents and communities and Queensland State Government Renewable Energy Zones prevent local communities and council from having their rightful say.”
First outlined in 2023 by the state government, Queensland’s Renewable Energy Zones effectively override local planning regulations to turbocharge the rollout of wind, solar and battery storage projects for connection to an energy supergrid.
Among the 12 proposed REZs is the Southern Downs.
Petition sponsor and Southern Downs MP James Lister criticised the laws which he claimed had “overridden the right of people and councils to use their own local planning laws to reject or accept windfarm proposals in their community”.
The petition will remain open for any Queensland resident to sign until mid-August.
Cr Hamilton said she was aware of the petition.
“It is open to all residents of Queensland, not just the Southern Downs,” she said.
“It would be unwise to base any position of council on the petition when there is no visibility on how many of the petitioners are residents of the Southern Downs, other than the principal petitioner and Mr James Lister MP.”
Asked whether he was concerned about the petition attracting support from outside the region, Mr Lister replied.
“People have the right to criticise the state government for that, and if they ask me to put their petition up on the parliamentary website, that’s fine with me,” he said.
Calls from Mr Lister to relocate future renewable projects further west of the Southern Downs drew a strong response from one Warwick Stanthorpe Today reader who, in a letter to the editor in June, accused the opposition MP of taking a “not in my neighbourhood” stance.
“I wonder how Mr. Lister plans to build the transmission infrastructure to bring the power from Western Queensland to the East Coast where the demand is required,” Wingarra Pastoral Company director Jamie McDonald wrote.
“Could I suggest that he arrange a broad ranging public meeting with representation from protest groups, land holders considering developments, windfarm operators and developers, local council and the relevant chambers of commerce to discuss how to leverage these developments for the benefit of this region,” he wrote.
Cr Hamilton said she had met with Mr Lister on a number of occasions since her election to discuss future renewable developments in the region.
“I have also discussed this issue with mayors in surrounding council areas,” she said.
It comes amid the government’s appointment of seven energy experts to a Queensland Energy System Advisory Board on Monday. Energy Minister Mick de Brenni said the board will provide “independent advice” to ensure the state remains on track in meeting its net-zero commitments.
