🚨 Update Alert! 🚨
Yesterday, the Department of Housing, Local Government, Planning and Public Works (DHLGPPW) released the updated State Code 23: Wind farm development and associated planning guideline in SDAP version 3.1. Here are the key highlights:
🌿 Enhanced Protection: Safeguarding areas of high ecological and biodiversity value.
🌊 Great Barrier Reef: Measures to protect water quality and control erosion.
🔊 Acoustic Criteria: Implementation of best practice standards.
👥 Social Impacts: Focus on local workforce and accommodation.
🚛 Transport Networks: Identification and assessment of viable haulage routes.
🔧 Decommissioning: Clear expectations on rehabilitation requirements.
The updated code and guideline aligns closely with the 2023 draft, with some notable changes:
🍃 Clearer definitions of protected ecological values, referencing MSES as per the Queensland Environmental Offsets Regulation 2014.
🍃 Requirements for progressive stabilisation of areas during construction.
🍃 Broader safety requirements in proximity in addition to on-site.
🍃 Staged decommissioning and rehabilitation post-construction and operational phases.
🍃 Detailed commentary on decommissioning expectations.
🍃 Additional stakeholder engagement recommendations, including DTMR, QFES, railway managers, and the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator.
🍃 New section outlining reporting requirements for lodgement and post-approval.
These updates reflect recent pre-lodgement advice from SARA and conditions on recent wind farm decisions.
Got questions about the updated State code 23? Need help navigating this process? Feel free to reach out to see how Umwelt can support your next Project.
#WindFarm #SustainableDevelopment #StateCode23 #PlanningGuideline #RenewableEnergy #Umwelt
Area Manager, Water-Energy-Environment
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