A legislative change that requires proponents of major renewable energy projects to deliver long-term community benefits in the areas where power generation infrastructure is built has been welcomed by the Darling Downs and South West Queensland Council of Mayors (DDSWQCoM).
DDSWQCoM chair, Toowoomba Region Mayor Cr Geoff McDonald, said the local government representative group was confident that the inclusion of community benefit agreements in new legislation governing major energy projects was a positive step.
"Our member representatives have been advocating to ensure that the communities that are affected by the development of major energy projects derive long-lasting benefits for their respective communities," Mayor McDonald said.
"Everyone agreed that we must not sell our wider southern and south west expanse of Queensland short.
"It will be especially important for us to collaborate as a group of councils in instances where major energy projects are established across our local government borders.
"Our communities can take a level of comfort from the fact that major project proponents need to establish a community benefit fund around social impacts as part of the conditions around gaining Queensland Government approval.
