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ARTICLE · 23 JULY 2025

New social impact and community benefit requirements begin for large-scale wind and solar development

Holding Redlich
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New QLD laws from 18 July 2025 require social impact assessments & community benefit deals for large wind & solar farm projects.

AustraliaEnvironment
Wendy Evans
Wendy Evans
Nicole Besgrove
Nicole Besgrove
Jasmine Matthews
Jasmine Matthews
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On July 18 2025, the Planning (Social Impact and Community Benefit) and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2025 (Qld) (Act) commenced in full, introducing a suite of major planning reforms designed to manage the social impacts of large-scale developments currently prescribed under the Planning (Social Impact and Community Benefit) and Other Legislation Amendment Regulation 2025 (Regulation) (also commencing on 18 July 2025) as:

  • a material change of use of premises for a solar farm that has a maximum instantaneous electricity output of 1MW or more; and
  • a material change of use of premises for a wind farm.

Coinciding with these legislative amendments, a new version of the Development Assessment Rules also came into effect.

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This publication does not deal with every important topic or change in law and is not intended to be relied upon as a substitute for legal or other advice that may be relevant to the reader's specific circumstances. If you have found this publication of interest and would like to know more or wish to obtain legal advice relevant to your circumstances please contact one of the named individuals listed.

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