Planning Archives - Renew Economy

Wind

Victoria gives green light to contested wind project, with fewer turbines and operating limits
A 600MW wind project has the green light to start construction, but government wants turbine numbers cut and restrictions placed on operations.
Rachel Williamson

Jan 12, 2026

3
Solar

Gigawatt-scale solar project to help power giant smelter and pave way for coal closure gets planning approval
Construction on what will likely be Australia’s biggest solar project – to help power Rio’s giant smelter – can now begin after gaining development approval.
Rachel Williamson

Dec 17, 2025

4
Solar

NSW abattoir goes back for seconds on solar, adds a battery to cut dependence on the grid
NSW abattoir wants to double the size of its solar array and add a battery in order to reduce its dependence on the grid at its peak consumption time in the afternoon.
Rachel Williamson

Dec 17, 2025

1
Commentary

The clean energy transition won’t succeed without community trust. And we’re running out of it
The challenges facing the transition to renewable energy are no longer primarily technological or financial; they are social. So what needs to change?
Sangay Wangchuk

Jun 10, 2025

22
Policy & Planning

Cities could get more than 4°C hotter by 2100. To keep cool in Australia, we urgently need a national planning policy
Stronger national planning policies, incorporating climate change considerations, key to keeping cities safe and cool, researchers say.
The Conversation

Jan 11, 2021

0
Coal

NSW committee rejects move to protect coal mines from downstream emissions
NSW upper house committee recommends that proposed protections for coal mines from emissions impacts in planning decisions be scrapped.
Michael Mazengarb

Mar 6, 2020

0
Coal

Huge Bylong coal mine blocked due to long-term environmental impacts
Another proposed coal mine in NSW fails to win development approval as climate impacts grow as a substanital barrier to new coal mines.
Michael Mazengarb

Sep 18, 2019

2
Solar

Victoria locks in new solar farm planning guidelines
Victoria government planning amendment introduced to ensure large-scale solar projects choose appropriate locations on grid, have minimal environmental or social impacts.
Sophie Vorrath

Sep 17, 2019

0
NSW planning commission approves new solar project near Gunnedah
Second large-scale solar project near Gunnedah gets approval, despite objections from local pistol club worried about glare.
Michael Mazengarb

Jul 25, 2019

0
Queensland approves 250MW Aldoga solar farm near Gladstone
Queensland Government gives green-light to 250MW Aldoga solar project, set to create hundreds of jobs in the coal dominated Gladstone region.
Michael Mazengarb

May 29, 2019

0
NSW Government

NSW Planning blocks Crookwell 3 wind farm, in heart of Taylor’s electorate
Third stage of Crookwell wind farm, in heart of energy minister Angus Taylor’s electorate, rejected by NSW Planning after opposition from local Landscape Guardian groups.
Michael Mazengarb

May 10, 2019

0
Complacency rules as Queensland makes risky edict on sea-level rise
Queensland Deputy Premier’s decision to order a Brisbane council to remove future sea-level rise from its planning regulations seems rather short-sighted.
Justine Bell

Dec 12, 2014

13