Planning application

Author: Petra Stock

In Australia, most kinds of development need to go through a planning and approval process before construction can start. This applies to a proposed new wind farm, just as it does to a house renovation or a new road project.

The planning process for a new wind farm involves submitting a detailed planning (or development) application to the relevant authority. This can be quite a lengthy process (anywhere from six months to several years) as it involves doing a range of environmental and technical studies.

A wind farm planning application generally includes:

• an application form - this is usually a standard form provided by the Local or State Government
• a planning application report describing the proposed wind farm and the reasons for development
• a copy of all the environmental and technical studies, showing the potential impact of the wind farm
• a cheque payable to the relevant authority for assessing the planning application
• any other additional state-specific requirements such as an Environmental Management Plan or Cultural Heritage Management Plan.

Planning process stages

The planning process has several stages.

1. Start the planning approval process. The proposed wind farm passes the feasibility stage.
2. Do initial technical and environmental studies. These cover a range of considerations such as cultural heritage, traffic, greenhouse and air quality, landscape and visual, noise, shadow flicker, electromagnetic interference, flora and fauna, surface and ground water, geology and risk.
3. Finalise the wind farm layout and project details. This includes number of turbines and details such as height and blade length, width and design of access tracks, design of substations, transmission lines and maintenance facilities. The design can be 'fixed' before the technical and environmental studies take place or after, so constraints such as significant cultural heritage sites or habitat can be considered in the design.
4. Complete any state-specific planning steps. For example, the Environment Effects Statement Referral and Cultural Heritage Management Plan process in Victoria.
5. Complete technical and environmental studies. The final reports need to reflect the final wind farm layout and project details.
6. Refer the proposed wind farm under the Federal Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act. The timing of this may be early or late in the planning process.
7. Write the planning application report. This involves describing all aspects of the proposed wind farm, summarising the findings of the environmental and technical studies and showing how the wind farm complies with the relevant planning policies.
8. Submit the complete planning application to the relevant authority.
9. Regulatory bodies may seek further information. This usually happens before the planning application goes on public exhibition.
10. Public exhibition of planning application. In all states, there's an opportunity for the community to have a say about the proposal. Usually the proponent is given an opportunity to respond to any submissions.
11. A decision is made - this may involve a Council meeting, independent panel process or ministerial decision.
12. If the proposed wind farm is approved, then a planning permit with a set of conditions is issued. If the project is rejected, there may be an appeals process available. Objectors to the proposed wind farm can also appeal the decision.

Consultation with key stakeholders including regulatory bodies and interest groups and the wider community usually occurs throughout the planning stage.

Wind farm design and layout

There are generally two approaches to wind farm design:

• The wind farm layout is fixed from the beginning, before all environmental and technical studies are complete.
• You start with a general site area, and possibly an initial layout. This layout then changes following initial results from environmental and technical studies, to accommodate constraints such as cultural heritage sites, habitat areas, noise constraints and landscape features.

The second approach, being a two stage process (initial study findings, reconfigure layout, complete study) may take more time and effort, but the end result is a best-practice wind farm that minimises negative impacts. This approach is better for larger wind farms, but may be 'overkill' for a project of one or two turbines, where there are likely to be few environmental issues.

Here are the pros and cons of each approach:

Summary of the planning process by state

Wind farms are generally approved through a state or local planning process. Check with the planning department in your state on the process.

Checklist

• Investigate which Federal, State and Local planning guidelines apply to your project.
• Meet with the local Council and the State government planning department to discuss the planning application process.
• Engage consultants to undertake technical and environmental studies.
• Prepare and submit State and Federal environmental referrals.
• Conduct community information sessions.
• Prepare and submit planning application.
• Respond to further information requests from Council or State government.
• Coordinate public exhibition.
• Planning review and determination.