As a town planner, it can be easy to forget that a great many people don’t wholly understand the role of a private (non-government employed) town planner. Town planners within local Councils and the Queensland Department of State Development, Infrastructure and Planning do, in a very broad sense, ‘design towns and cities’. So, if we aren't designing towns and cities, what does that leave for private town planners to do? Planning Schemes - The How and Why You may be surprised to learn that it’s not uncommon for people to think, “I own the land so now I can do what I want with it.” – and whilst it’s a completely understandable belief, development is far more complex than that. Planning Schemes, the codes set out to classify what is and is not acceptable development on your property, are not entirely devised by your local Council. There are a lot of moving parts when it comes to planning schemes and approvals: The Planning Act 2016 – This is the Queensland legislation that directs all planning within the state and is supported by: State Planning Policy (SPP) State Development Assessment Provisions (SDAP) Queensland Planning Provisions (QPP) Regional Plans – each region of Queensland (such Mackay, Isaac and Whitsundays Regional Plan or ShapingSEQ) has their own regional plan that sets out planning and growth expectations for the coming years, such as what is priority living area and priority agricultural area. These are guided by the Planning Act 2016 and are devised by State Government in collaboration with relevant local governments, communities and industry stakeholders to guide acceptable development in that region. DA Rules – these rules are devised by the Minister for Planning, guided by the Planning Act 2015, that set the State standard for how development applications should be made and decided on. Planning Schemes – these codes are created to meet the requirements of the DA Rules and ALL of the above legislative requirements and policies as well as the needs of the impacted local communities and the Council’s own ideals for growth and development within their local government area. Addressing these codes can become more complex when State legislative items supersede the date of the most recent Planning Scheme update.

Queensland has introduced a Community Benefit system that fundamentally transforms how wind farms and large-scale solar farms are planned and approved. The Planning (Social Impact and Community Benefit) and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2025 (the PSICBOLA Act) commenced on 18 July 2025, which introduced amendments to the Planning Act 2016. The amendments include a new community benefit system which applies to wind farms and large-scale solar farms. This comprehensive reform represents a significant shift in Queensland's planning framework. The new community benefit system requires proponents to undertake a social impact assessment and enter into a community benefit agreement. What is the Community Benefit System? The community benefit system seeks to ensure that developments contribute positively to the communities they impact and align with local expectations. The Community Benefit System comprises two essential components that work together and seek to create positive outcomes for the host community: 1. Social Impact Assessment (SIA) The SIA requires proponents to comprehensively evaluate how their project will affect local communities, examining both positive and negative impacts across areas such as workforce management, local procurement, housing availability, and community wellbeing. 2. Community Benefit Agreement (CBA) This system requires proponents to conduct a social impact assessment and enter into a community benefit agreement before lodging a development application. Which Projects Are Affected? The Community Benefit system applies specifically to: All wind farms regardless of size Large-scale solar farms defined as facilities that either generate 1MW or more of electricity from solar energy, or where solar panels and mounting structures occupy 2 hectares or more The proposed changes to the Planning Act will apply to development applications and change applications (other than for minor changes) for wind farms and large-scale solar farms. Key Changes to State Codes New State Code 26: Solar Farm Development This new code establishes assessment benchmarks specifically for solar farm developments. The new code seeks to ensure solar farms are subject to a rigorous assessment via the impact assessment process. Updated State Code 23: Wind Farm Development State Code 23: Wind Farm Development has been updated to ensure it alights with the change to State Code 26: Solar Farm development where appropriate. Assessment Process Changes Impact Assessment for All Renewable Projects Applicable legislation has been amended such that renewable energy projects are subject to Impact Assessment, i.e. public notification requirements. Wind farm developments are subject to assessment by the State Assessment Referral Agency (SARA). The responsibility for assessing development applications for large-scale solar farms shifts from local governments to SARA. Mandatory Requirements Before Application The Community Benefit system introduces pre-application requirements that must be completed before lodging a development application: Social Impact Assessment Report Proponents must undertake comprehensive community consultation and prepare a detailed SIA report that: Identifies and analyses social impacts on local communities Assesses cumulative impacts from multiple developments Proposes mitigation strategies through a Social Impact Management Plan (SIMP) Complies with new SIA guidelines Executed Community Benefit Agreement The community benefit system requires a social impact assessment report and an executed Community Benefit Agreement (CBA) to be lodged with a development application for it to be properly made. Types of community benefits could include: Providing or contributing towards infrastructure Making a financial contribution A combination of both CBAs are intended to be publicly accessible, and it is proposed that local governments will be required to report on the receipt and expenditure of any funds received as part of annual financial statement reporting. Implications for Existing Applications At commencement of changes on 18 July 2025, pre-existing applications are taken to be not properly made, unless the application is already subject to a call-in or direction notice under the Planning Act 2016. As a result, these development applications are required to be remade to the relevant assessment manager and are subject to the new community benefit system. This means many applications will need to restart the process, incorporating the new SIA and CBA requirements. Looking Ahead Queensland's Community Benefit system sets a new standard for renewable energy planning. For developers, this could mean longer approval timeframes and increased costs, but also the opportunity to engage with and create lasting positive relationships with host communities. For communities, it ensures their voices are heard and that they share in the benefits of renewable energy developments in their areas. As Queensland continues to transition toward renewable energy, the Community Benefit system seeks to ensure this transformation happens in partnership with local communities. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ For expert guidance on navigating Queensland's new Community Benefit system, contact wallplanning.com.au. Our experienced consultants can help you understand these complex requirements and develop successful strategies for your renewable energy projects.