The Tasmanian government has announced a proposed Renewable Energy Zone (REZ) in the state’s northwest region, setting a new standard for community engagement in renewable energy development.
According to Andrew Bray, National Director of RE-Alliance, an organisation that works with regional communities on renewable energy rollouts, Tasmania’s approach to the North West REZ should become a model for other states and territories.
“It’s the first proposed REZ in the country that wasn’t put forward until an open, community-focussed process of consultation was completed,” Bray said. “This means that the lines on a map weren’t drawn until locals had shared where they would be happy for renewables to go and where they weren’t.”
In an Australian first, Tasmania’s Renewables, Climate and Future Industries Tasmania (ReCFIT) department deployed a ‘mapping important places’ platform, which gathered community views on the places that are important to them.
This information was then considered alongside technical, environmental, and land use data.
Bray commended the government’s decision to call for expressions of interest from locals to co-design a community benefit scheme, stating: “To do this at the front end of a REZ development process is exactly when it should be happening, and setting up a Community Advisory Board sends entirely the right message.”
With the proposed REZ now announced, a new round of consultation has commenced.
Bray emphasised the importance of maintaining this community-focused approach, saying: “Putting communities first in the planning process for a REZ is a great start.
“Now, the government needs to keep up the good work and build the capacity of regional communities in Tasmania to become active participants in the renewable energy rollout.”
One way to achieve this, according to Bray, is by recognising the crucial role of local councils as critical stakeholders and ensuring they are appropriately resourced to engage with REZ within their jurisdictions.
RE-Alliance also acknowledged the important work of the Community Power Agency in developing the ‘Guideline for Community Engagement, Benefit Sharing and Local Procurement’ for renewables in Tasmania, which was adopted alongside the North West REZ announcement.
As the transition to renewable energy continues, Tasmania’s innovative approach to community engagement in the development of REZs sets a precedent for other states and territories to follow, ensuring that local voices are heard and valued throughout the process.
