Draft National Wind Farm Development Guidelines - July 2010

Planning application (PA2)
The planning application stage of a wind farm development is crucial, as it ultimately
determines whether the project goes ahead (and in what form) or not. This may include
commonwealth, state/territory and local level applications as well as any required
environmental impact considerations.
The documentation submitted should be in accordance with the requirements of the
relevant authority’s assessment process and include, as a minimum:
• A detailed summary of the proposal identifying the key issues and any required
mitigation measures in a form suitable for consultation.
• A planning assessment specifically addressing all relevant planning provisions.
• The detailed technical studies on the basis of which the conclusions are drawn.
Approved forms, lists of detailed application requirements etc can be sourced from the
relevant authority.
The documentation may contain commitments by the proponent to undertake various
actions. Approval consents/permits are likely to contain conditions of approval requiring
actions to be undertaken and, in some cases, documentation to be submitted for
secondary consent.
Care needs to be taken by the proponents and regulators when formulating these
commitments and conditions that they follow the following principles:
• That they are relevant.
• That they are clear in:
What objective is to be achieved.
What work is to be undertaken.
When the work is to be undertaken and when the need for the action ceases.
What level of reporting or auditing is required.
Planning hearings (where required)(PA3)
Planning hearings may be required in some jurisdictions and may include a panel or
commission of inquiry, which is often the regulatory process for large state/territoryassessed
developments. Some may be held before an appeal tribunal or court. However,
not all approval processes may get to this stage. Planning hearings are generally public
and provide an opportunity for proponents and other interested parties to present their
proposal to the relevant authority and answer questions that the authority may have.
The detailed technical studies may need to be revised for presentation as evidence and
authors of reports may be required to attend the hearings and answer questions from the
panel members and, in some cases, in cross-examination from other parties.
Draft National Wind Farm Development Guidelines – 2 July 2010 Page 189