The New South Wales Government has taken into account the impact of large-scale renewable energy infrastructure on the state’s explorers in its new Renewable Energy Planning Framework.
The government says that while there is broad support for renewable energy across the state, there have increasingly been calls from local communities for greater certainty and transparency on how renewable projects will be assessed and managed over their lifecycle.
At the same time, Association of Mining and Exploration Companies (AMEC) CEO Warren Pearce says the growing impact of renewable energy projects on exploration activities is a mounting concern for mineral explorers, with far-reaching implications.
“This is a significant issue for AMEC members across the country, and it’s encouraging to see New South Wales taking the lead in addressing it,” he says.
Under the NSW Mining Act 1992, mining exploration companies have exclusive rights to explore for specific minerals within an exploration licence or assessment lease.
If an agreement includes provisions that prevent other development on the land, the parties must make it clear that these arrangements do not prevent exploration.
“AMEC members had advised that recent renewable energy projects had made ‘exclusive agreements’ with landowners, this is not lawful and has now been specifically mentioned in the guidelines,” Pearce says.
The Renewable Energy Planning Framework is designed to help achieve the transition to renewable energy, support legislated net zero targets and secure an affordable supply of electricity.
The framework outlines a range of policies to guide the planning and assessment process for renewable energy development and infrastructure.
This includes a guideline specifying that any agreement for large-scale renewable energy infrastructure cannot restrict access to, or use of the land for mineral exploration.
Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully says it is critical that the NSW Government continues to work collaboratively with communities and industry to minimise impacts, develop effective solutions where challenges exist and provide support where it is needed.
AMEC New South Wales Director Kerry Aitkins says the refined guidelines are a positive development for landholders, who often find themselves in a difficult position when making decisions about their properties and future amid the rise of renewable energy projects.
“What people are beginning to understand is that paradoxically without exploration and access to land, we will be unable to get the materials required for renewable energy infrastructure, there is no alternative source of these materials and land access is critical,” Aitkins says.
Write to Angela East at Mining.com.au
Images: iStock
