- The landmark Planning (Social Impact and Community Benefit) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025 gives regional Queensland a voice.
- The Bill strengthens social licence requirements for renewable energy projects, provides consistent development assessment rules across the State.
- Amendments to streamline delivery of Games infrastructure and governance processes.
The Crisafulli Government is backing regional Queensland with landmark legislation that delivers on its election commitment to empower communities on renewables and streamline the delivery of Games legacy infrastructure.
The Planning (Social Impact and Community Benefit) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025 introduces significant reforms that will strengthen social licence requirements for renewable energy projects and consistent development assessment rules across the State.
Key changes in the Bill include:
Requiring large-scale solar farms and wind farms to be impact assessable, with mandatory public consultation.
Introducing a binding community benefit system that mandates social impact assessments and agreements between proponents and local governments.
Making the State the assessment manager for large-scale solar farms to ensure consistent rules and certainty across Queensland's 77 council areas.
Amending the Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Games Arrangements Act 2021 to streamline the delivery of generational Games infrastructure.
Updating the Queensland Building and Construction Commission Act 1991 to ensure continued protection for homeowners under the Queensland Home Warranty Scheme.
Labor's reckless rush to renewables and short-term political point scoring meant that communities, councils, and stakeholders were shut out of approval processes for projects across Queensland.
The Crisafulli Government is committed to giving all Queenslanders a voice and empowering regional communities on renewable energy developments to ensure long-lasting legacy and community benefits are locked in for new projects at the time of approval.
Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning Jarrod Bleijie said the legislation marked a turning point for how Queensland plans for growth, and delivered a clear, transparent, and consistent framework.
"For too long, Queenslanders have seen projects rushed through approvals without community consultation, inconsistent planning rules and unclear benefits. That ends today," Deputy Premier Bleijie said.
"The Crisafulli Government is backing regional Queensland with nation leading legislation that ensures renewable energy projects are assessed with the same rigour as other major developments.
"If you want to build a wind farm or large-scale solar farm in Queensland, you now need to build trust and deliver benefits for the communities you're entering.
"We're not imposing unreasonable costs or delays. We're asking proponents to do what's right – what Queensland communities deserve.
"After Labor's 1,200-day record of Games backflips and cost blowouts chaos, this legislation also streamlines the Crisafulli Government's 2032 Delivery Plan.
"The legislation passed tonight underpins the delivery of Olympic and Paralympic infrastructure on time, on budget, and with a clear legacy for communities well beyond 2032."
Minister for Sport and Racing and Minister for the Olympic and Paralympic Games Tim Mander said the legislation would streamline the delivery of Games infrastructure and Games governance processes.
"The Crisafulli Government is getting on with the job of delivering a Games for all of Queensland that will leave a lasting legacy ahead of 2032 and beyond," Minister Mander said.
"The amendments to the Act will see the total number of directors on the Brisbane 2032 Organising Committee Board reduce from 24 to 15, reducing bureaucracy and streamlining processes to allow us to deliver a successful Games."
Local Government Association of Queensland CEO Alison Smith said legislation enshrining community benefit has been a long-held plea of Queensland councils.
"We thank the State Government for listening to councils and giving local government a seat at the table for their communities," Ms Smith said.
Statutory guidelines and tools to support implementation of the new community benefit system have already been made available in draft. These will be finalised and rolled out in the coming weeks to prepare local governments and industry stakeholders for the commencement.
