❓ Question regarding consultation with local governments on draft guidelines for community benefits from renewable energy projects. The Minister details consultation efforts and emphasizes the preference for guidelines over mandates, inviting further feedback.
AnsweredQoN 195Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Renewable energy projects195.Ms Kirrilee Warrto
theMinister for Energy and Decarbonisation:I refer to the draft
guideline regarding community benefits for renewable energy projects.(1) Which local government authorities were
consulted when preparing this document?(2) How many of these local governments agree that
this is the only action they need to mitigate unchecked and unregulated
billion-dollar renewable projects encroaching on their regional communities?
theMinister for Energy and Decarbonisation:I refer to the draft
guideline regarding community benefits for renewable energy projects.(1) Which local government authorities were
consulted when preparing this document?(2) How many of these local governments agree that
this is the only action they need to mitigate unchecked and unregulated
billion-dollar renewable projects encroaching on their regional communities?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
17 June 2025
Response time
0 days
Ms Amber-Jade Sanderson replied:(1)–(2) I welcome the question from the
member and the interest from local governments on this issue. I held a round table
with a number of regional local governments late last week. It was hosted by the
Western Australian Local Government Association. Multiple local governments
were consulted on the development of the draft guidelines, and the feedback
from those local governments was that they wanted guidelines, not mandates. The
feedback from industry was that it wanted guidelines, not mandates. We have
taken into account all of that feedback. It is exactly that: feedback. It is out
for consultation. This is now the formal part of consultation. That is how we
start: we put it out publicly and ask for people's opinions.I understand that that is an
alien principle to the Liberal and National Parties, who have just discovered
listening, so that is a new concept.Several members
interjected.The Speaker:Members!Ms Amber-Jade Sanderson:No, I ammistaken. They have not actually discovered
listening. I am not sure how much listening is actually going on on that
listening tour, but, anyway, it was a great idea. "I have got a cracking
idea! I tell you what, guys, let's listen!"This is building on
the work of the previous Minister for Energy, and it has been called for by
local governments and industry. We are starting the conversations and
negotiations around what the benefits for community are. This is outside of
rate setting; rates are set in an entirely different process. This is to stop large
proponents from picking off neighbours and picking off landowners. It is to
provide benefits for the whole community over the life cycle of that asset,
which can be 30 to 40 years.Several members
interjected.The Speaker:Members!Ms Amber-Jade Sanderson:This can be really
economically transformational for small local governments that have a really
limited rate base. This is a genuine opportunity, not just to buy footy jerseys
for the local team but to invest in local assets.Mr Lachlan Hunterinterjected.The Speaker:Member for Central Wheatbelt!Ms Amber-Jade Sanderson:We have been asked by the
sector to provide the guidelines. The guidelines are in line with other states'
and territories' guidelines. There are various models in other states and
territories. Some are mandated and some have guidelines. The feedback that we
had very strongly from both industry and local government was that they want
guidelines. We want to start the conversation, but this is the consultation. If
the member has something to say, I look forward to reading their submission.
Renewable energy projects
member and the interest from local governments on this issue. I held a round table
with a number of regional local governments late last week. It was hosted by the
Western Australian Local Government Association. Multiple local governments
were consulted on the development of the draft guidelines, and the feedback
from those local governments was that they wanted guidelines, not mandates. The
feedback from industry was that it wanted guidelines, not mandates. We have
taken into account all of that feedback. It is exactly that: feedback. It is out
for consultation. This is now the formal part of consultation. That is how we
start: we put it out publicly and ask for people's opinions.I understand that that is an
alien principle to the Liberal and National Parties, who have just discovered
listening, so that is a new concept.Several members
interjected.The Speaker:Members!Ms Amber-Jade Sanderson:No, I ammistaken. They have not actually discovered
listening. I am not sure how much listening is actually going on on that
listening tour, but, anyway, it was a great idea. "I have got a cracking
idea! I tell you what, guys, let's listen!"This is building on
the work of the previous Minister for Energy, and it has been called for by
local governments and industry. We are starting the conversations and
negotiations around what the benefits for community are. This is outside of
rate setting; rates are set in an entirely different process. This is to stop large
proponents from picking off neighbours and picking off landowners. It is to
provide benefits for the whole community over the life cycle of that asset,
which can be 30 to 40 years.Several members
interjected.The Speaker:Members!Ms Amber-Jade Sanderson:This can be really
economically transformational for small local governments that have a really
limited rate base. This is a genuine opportunity, not just to buy footy jerseys
for the local team but to invest in local assets.Mr Lachlan Hunterinterjected.The Speaker:Member for Central Wheatbelt!Ms Amber-Jade Sanderson:We have been asked by the
sector to provide the guidelines. The guidelines are in line with other states'
and territories' guidelines. There are various models in other states and
territories. Some are mandated and some have guidelines. The feedback that we
had very strongly from both industry and local government was that they want
guidelines. We want to start the conversation, but this is the consultation. If
the member has something to say, I look forward to reading their submission.
Renewable energy projects
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