The Victorian government is fast tracking the development process for renewable projects, removing the planning panel process and third party appeals.
Renewable projects in the state will now be classed as a significant economic development, providing them with a quicker process to approval.
Once an application is lodged for a significant project, a decision can now be made within four months.
The process means community opponents and the not in my backyard (NIMBY) movement will be unable to keep projects in limbo via the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) process.
Any renewable plans that are currently stuck in the approvals will also have access to this fast tracked process.
The government touted the move as providing “certainty” for the state’s growing renewable energy industry.
Under the Development Facilitation Program, renewable energy projects will be treated like other significant projects such as a big housing build.
The government claims $90 billion (US$59.5 billion) worth of investment value in renewable projects is currently “in the pipeline,” which could generate 15,000 jobs for the state.
The government said projects will be “monitored” on an ongoing basis to “identify blockers” earlier and resolve them faster.
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan announced the news to media at the Yaloak South Wind Farm at Mount Wallace in Victoria.
She said the government will cut the red tape holding back projects that provide stronger, cheaper power for Victorians.
“The current system means that important projects can be tied up for years seeking approval. It delays construction and deters investment, and instead of spinning turbines, we’re too often left spinning our wheels,” Ms. Allan said.
Minister for Energy and Resources Lily D'Ambrosio claimed the cost of fossil fuels are rising globally while Victoria’s old coal fired generators were closing.
“Streamlining planning approvals for the cheapest form of new build power generation is so important,” she said.
The government said one in five applications have ended up not being built after getting stuck in VCAT since 2015.
The government said the fast tracked process will ensure objections don’t get stalled in VCAT in the final notice of decision stage, which can add two years to the delivery process.
“The change means that from the time a complete application is lodged for one of these new state significant projects, decisions can be made within four months,” the state government said.
“The voices of communities who want to raise concerns with a proposal will continue to be protected. Third party objections will still have a place in the approvals process, but this change prevents time-consuming and repeated delays that hold these projects back for years.”
A dedicated facilitation team within the government will now oversee all renewable energy applications.
Planning Minister Sonya Kilkenny added, “Putting renewables in the planning express lane means we can get more projects up and running sooner and provide Victorian households with cheaper and cleaner energy.”
