New legislation has come into effect that will strengthen social license requirements for renewable energy projects across the state.
The Planning (Social Impact and Community Benefit) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025, will ensure that communities, councils, and stakeholders are more deeply involved in approval processes.
The changes to planning laws for renewables were passed by Parliament in June 2025, and include:
- Impact assessment requiring mandatory public notification for proposed large-scale solar farms as well as wind farms (which were made impact assessable in February 2025)
- A community benefit system, featuring Social Impact Assessments (SIAs) that includes community and stakeholder engagement, and Community Benefit Agreements (CBAs) negotiated with local councils
- The state as assessment manager under a new partnership with local governments for large-scale solar farms to ensure consistent rules and certainty across Queensland’s 77 council areas
The new system fills a regulatory gap and addresses inconsistencies which meant community and social impacts were not always adequately considered.
Pre-existing applications that are yet to be decided will need to meet the requirements of the new approvals system, address social impacts and deliver community benefits.
The State Government has said that it is committed to giving all Queenslanders a voice and empowering regional communities on renewable energy developments to ensure long-lasting legacy and community benefits are locked in for new projects at the time of approval.
Queensland Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning, Jarrod Bleijie, said that these nation-leading laws would deliver for regional Queensland.
“The Queensland Government is listening, and we are delivering a new era of renewables accountability, clarity, transparency, and community legacy,” Bleijie said.
“We are backing regional Queensland with nation-leading laws that ensures renewable energy projects build social licence in the community and give the renewables sector certainty on government and community expectations.
“For too long, Queenslanders have seen projects rushed through approvals without community consultation, inconsistent planning rules and unclear benefits.
“This new framework improves the assessment process and ensures local communities gain tangible benefits.
“This was a key election commitment, backed in by regional Queensland, to level the playing field for major projects – be it renewable energy, resources, or agriculture.
“We need to make sure we are building stronger regional economies that are supported by the right infrastructure.”
For more information on the planning framework for renewable energy development, visit: www.planning.qld.gov.au/regulating-renewables
