The Darling Downs Environment Council (DDEC) is calling on Toowoomba Regional Council (TRC) to work with community and local governments across Queensland to urge the State Government to require mining and other major industrial developments to deliver mandatory community benefit agreements, just as renewable energy projects are now required to do.
DDEC Coordinator Ahri Tallon said the Council’s recent decision to introduce a $37,500 cost-recovery fee for the assessment of Social Impact Assessments (SIAs) and Community Benefit Agreements (CBAs) for large renewable energy projects highlights a growing policy imbalance.
“Renewable energy developers are now being required to assess and contribute to social and community outcomes, which is reasonable given the scale of these projects,” Mr Tallon said.
“But renewables should not be singled out. Mining, extractive industries and other major industrial developments often have long-term and cumulative impacts on communities, roads, water, housing and services, yet they are not held to the same standard.”
Last week, TRC unanimously endorsed the new fee structure, aligning the region with a statewide shift led by the Queensland Government to ensure ratepayers are not left to cover the cost of assessing large-scale renewable projects. Council officers noted a pipeline of at least eight major energy developments in the region, representing several billion dollars in investment.
Mr Tallon said the move makes clear the need for a broader reform conversation.
“This is an opportunity for Toowoomba Regional Council to be a strong advocate for fairness. The arguement that mining industries pay royalities instead does not stack up. Royalties are the cost of buying non renwable commodities from the people.” he said.
“If community benefit agreements were required across all major developments, it would significantly reduce pressure on cash-strapped councils to fund community infrastructure, services and mitigation measures out of general rates.”
DDEC said well-designed CBAs can deliver lasting benefits when applied consistently, including funding for local infrastructure, community facilities, environmental restoration, skills development and long-term regional resilience.
“We’re calling on TRC to work with us and other councils to push the State Government to ensure mining and major industrial projects are held to the same expectations. That’s better for communities, better for councils, and better for public trust in planning decisions.”
DDEC emphasised it supports renewable energy development done right, but warned against policies that risk undermining community confidence by applying different rules to different industries.
“Fairness and consistency are essential if Queensland is serious about good planning and strong regional communities,” Mr Tallon said.
Recent Comments