By Granite Belt Sustainable Action Network
The Southern Downs has now had the experience of hosting the construction of two large renewable energy projects, the UQ solar farm near Warwick and ACCIONA Energía’s MacIntyre Wind Farm near Karara.
There has been a fair bit of debate regarding the benefits and impacts of these projects. The reality is that there are always positives and negatives associated with such major developments.
With another 21 renewable energy proposals being put forward for the greater south-east Queensland, we need real community input and consultation.
The approval of the Warwick solar farm and the MacIntyre project did not involve formal involvement or consultation with the local community. With legislated renewable energy targets in place at both the State and Federal levels, the potential impact of a raft of multi-billion dollar investments in our region demands deeper and broader engagement of the impacted communities.
The recent release of the 2023 Queensland Renewable Energy Zone (REZ) Roadmap presents the Southern Downs community with the opportunity to influence these projects in ways that will maximize the flow of economic and social benefits back to our communities while addressing impacts on agriculture and the environment.
Proposed Regional Energy Reference Groups will provide valuable input to shape priorities during the assessment of new renewable energy projects and associated infrastructure. The Reference Groups also aim to improve coordination of community investment schemes including the potential establishment of a coordinated fund to which renewable energy developers could contribute.
GBSAN encourages the Southern Downs Regional Council to engage directly with the State Government on the development of the proposed Regional Energy Reference Group covering the Southern Downs.
The engagement by council of key local stakeholders including agricultural industry bodies, business and industry, First Nation’s organisations, environmental organisations, employment agencies and organisations dealing with community support services to advocate for their inclusion in the proposed Southern Region Energy Reference Group is an important first step.
Queensland’s commitment to 70 per cent renewables by 2032 offers our region an incredible opportunity to capitalise on the clean energy transition in a way that reduces any negative impacts and maximises the environmental, social and economic benefits. To achieve this however, our community must have ’a seat at the table’ and council needs to ensure this happens.
