The draft Policy applies to large scale renewable energy developments (such as wind, solar and battery storage facilities) where energy is produced for export to the grid or for commercial/industrial use.

It does not include renewable energy systems where the energy produced principally supplies a domestic, rural or small business premises, where on selling to the grid is secondary.

The policy can be used to assess the Scott River Wind Farm proposal.

The Policy provisions have been divided into several themes. It covers:

• Land capability – not compromising the use of land for agriculture
• Landscape and visual impact – avoiding areas of landscape significance, outlining setbacks to dwellings, mitigating visual impacts
• Noise – introduction of new noise requirements
• Environmental impact – avoiding native vegetation, managing risks to flora, fauna and waterways
• Construction and decommissioning – managing impacts from construction and risk at the end of life
• Community engagement and community benefit funds – setting expectations for proponents

The draft Policy includes objectives that are the outcomes a proposal should achieve. These include that:

• Large scale renewables will be subject to an evalutaion of the level of community acceptance of resultant landscape impacts as a relevant factor in determining any proposal.
• The amenity and enjoyment of the local environment is protected and preserved.
• The broader environmental benefits of a transition to renewable energy is balanced
  with local impacts.
• Impacts on local infrastructure are mitigated through contributions or improvements to infrastructure associated with proposals.
• Environmental impact is minimised and biodiversity is supported, with the precautionary approach implemented for high risk environmental issues.
• Ensure that productivity of prime agricultural land is not compromised.
• Reasonable levels of amenity are maintained through restricting the impacts of noise on sensitive land uses.
• Land that has been utilised for large scale renewable development is returned to its previous state without cost to the community, environment or purpose for which the land is zoned.
• The community shares directly in the benefit of investment in large scale proposals.