On 7 August 2023 the Queensland Government initiated consultation on proposed amendments to State Code 23 (Wind Farm Code) and its associated guidelines for onshore wind farm development projects. The review of the Wind Farm Code proposes new assessment benchmarks for wind farm projects aimed at balancing renewable industry, environmental and community interests.
The SDAPs and Their Evolution
The State Development Assessment Provisions (SDAPs) were first established over a decade ago, providing a coordinated assessment framework for development in Queensland. By 2016, these provisions expanded to include requirements for wind farm development. The overarching objective was to mitigate potential adverse effects on the environment, local communities, and individuals throughout a wind farm's lifecycle.
New and Improved Assessment Benchmarks for Wind Farm Projects
The State takes the lead in assessing onshore wind generation projects and is proposing the following changes to the Wind Farm Code’s assessment benchmarks.
1. Protecting areas of high environmental value and minimising environmental impacts: New performance outcomes are proposed to focus on adverse impacts on threatened species (as listed under the Nature Conservation Act 1992 (Qld)) and associated habitats and areas of high environmental value throughout a wind farm’s project lifecycle. An emphasis is also placed on the protection of birds and bats from adverse impacts. To demonstrate compliance with the performance outcomes, proponents must prepare an ecological assessment report identifying and assessing the risks to flora, fauna and associated habitats, including, among other things:
- how highly sensitive parts of the site have been avoided
- how risks will be mitigated or managed through the design, siting and operation of the wind farm.
The draft Planning guidance: State Code 23: Wind farm development August 2023 (Draft Guidelines) provides a more comprehensive outline of the requirements for preparing an ecological assessment report.
2. Protecting water quality and erosion control: The review proposes to strengthen performance outcomes focused on the protection of water quality and erosion control. Wind farm development is to be designed and sited to avoid areas of ‘high erosion risk’ which are those areas highly likely to experience erosion resulting from rain, wind or flowing water. [1] Under the Draft Guidelines, proponents are encouraged to undertake an erosion risk assessment which considers the slope, soil dispersity, erosivity, and rainfall frequency. If a wind farm project is approved, conditions will require proponents to prepare a detailed erosion and sediment control plan prior to commencement of construction.
3. Natural hazards and extreme weather events: Wind farms are typically located in remote areas that can be exposed to natural hazards. ‘Natural hazards’ refers to a naturally occurring situation or condition, such as a flood, bushfire, landslide, coastal erosion or storm tide inundation, with the potential for loss or harm to the community, property or environment. Under the Wind Farm Code, wind farm development must be responsive to natural hazards and extreme weather events. Proponents will be required to prepare bushfire management plans and safety and emergency management plans to ensure that construction and operational workforces are appropriately protected.
4. Social impacts: When proposing on-site construction worker accommodations with more than 50 beds during the wind farm's construction, proponents must ensure that such accommodation does not result in an adverse impact on surrounding communities or townships. Proponents will need to prepare a construction workers’ accommodation options report to demonstrate compliance with the Wind Farm Code.
5. Transport networks: Wind farm construction may involve significant volumes of heavy vehicle haulage. The Wind Farm Code's proposed performance outcomes will be strengthened to both minimise adverse effects on the transport network and ensure the safety of its users. Proponents are encouraged to prepare a Heavy Vehicle and Oversize/Overmass (OSOM) construction concept strategy, demonstrating, among other things:
- consultation has occurred with the Department of Transport and Main Roads
- expected volumes and maximum weights and lengths of components requiring OSOM haulage
- key ‘pressure points’ on proposed OSOM routes such as bridges, structures and sections with constrained horizontal geometry due to the nature of the routes, such as tight winding roads up ranges.
6. Decommissioning: Decommissioning involves the removal of the wind turbines, site office and any other above-ground infrastructure. Under the Wind Farm Code,
- a site must be decommissioned and rehabilitated in a timely manner
- watercourses and drainage patterns must be reinstated
- wind farm components are to be reused, recycled or repurposed to the greatest extent possible.
Proponents will be required to prepare and submit an end of operation decommissioning management plan before a wind farm is decommissioned.
Next steps
Wind farm development proponents and other stakeholders should carefully examine the Wind Farm Code and Draft Guidelines and make submissions on or before 4 September 2023.
Such as the various risk rating prescribed in Section 4.4 of Chapter 4 of the IECA Best Practice Erosion and Sediment Control.
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