The NSW Government has released a new wind energy framework.
This new framework will provide greater clarity, consistency and transparency for industry and the community regarding both assessment and decision-making on wind energy projects.
The new Wind Energy Framework was finalised with the help and input of local communities, councils, community groups, industry and the general public.
A number of refinements and improvements to the framework have been made, in response to the issues raised.
Renewable energy
The NSW Government has introduced a tiered approvals regime for renewable energy systems, to ensure the level of assessment is appropriately tailored to the scale and type of the system. Renewable energy proposals are considered under different parts of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 as outlined below.
Large-scale renewable energy proposals
Under State Environmental Planning Policy (State and Regional Development) 2011, electricity generating works including renewable energy proposals such as wind farms with a capital cost of more than $30 million (or $10 million in an environmentally sensitive area) are considered as State Significant Development under Part 4 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979.
Small-scale renewable energy proposals
Under State Environmental Planning Policy (Infrastructure) 2007 (“Infrastructure SEPP”), there are a range of assessment pathways for small-scale renewable energy proposals, which are tailored to the size, location and level of environmental impact of the proposal.
Small-scale renewable energy systems covered by the Infrastructure SEPP include photovoltaic systems, solar hot water systems, solar air heating systems, small wind turbine systems and wind monitoring towers. Additional provisions may be included in the relevant local council’s Local Environmental Plan (LEP) and / or Development Control Plan (DCP).
Read more about the New Wind Energy Framework here: http://www.planning.nsw.gov.au/Policy-and-Legislation/Renewable-Energy