Minister Sanderson Fails Regional WA on Renewable Energy Projects

Media Release | 12 June 2025

Leader of The Nationals WA, Shane Love MLA, says the Labor Government’s consultation paper on community benefit guidelines for renewable energy projects is utterly inadequate, offering no guarantee that communities will benefit and ignoring the role of Local Governments in the approvals process.

Mr Love said the release of a non-binding set of guidelines does nothing to fix the serious flaws in WA’s current approach to renewable energy planning and entirely misses the mark of The Nationals WA’s strong policy position.

“These draft guidelines are not legally binding and contain no obligation for project proponents to listen to the communities they affect,” Mr Love said.

“There is no legal framework that requires the Cook Government or developers to act on community feedback. That is completely unacceptable.”

Mr Love also called on Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson to give an ironclad guarantee that Local Governments will not be sidelined or ridden roughshod over during the approvals process.

“Minister Sanderson must mandate community impact assessments to ensure local governments have a formal role in assessing projects before they proceed to the State Development Assessment Unit.”

Member for Geraldton Kirrilee Warr MLA said Local Governments were on the coalface of dealing with a tsunami of renewable energy projects.

“The Nationals are not opposed to renewables, but we are opposed to communities feeling they haven’t been consulted with, that their concerns have been ignored, and that their lives and livelihoods are being impacted by these major developments,” Ms Warr said.

“The Nationals have proudly stood side-by-side with the Local Government sector in demanding more support, guidance, and mandatory benefits for impacted communities.

“Disappointingly, this announcement from the State Government falls well short of what local governments and communities are asking for, and what they deserve.” Ms Warr said.

Shane Love said the State Government has a responsibility to deliver a comprehensive, legally enforceable State Planning Policy that will deliver certainty to communities, proponents, and Local Governments alike.

“This isn’t just about protecting landholders or councils. A clear legal framework also benefits
developers by providing consistency, clarity, and social licence,” Mr Love said.

It’s the position of The Nationals WA that a State Planning Policy should be developed to include:

• Mandatory community impact assessments before any project can proceed to the State
  Development Assessment Unit.
• Legislated roles for Local Governments in project assessment and consultation.
• Enforceable community benefit funds, with a baseline contribution of 1.5% of the project’s
  value or tied to energy production, managed by local governments.
• Mandatory decommissioning plans and annual contributions to a State-managed
  decommissioning fund, ensuring end-of-life costs are not passed on to landowners.
  

“These are basic, sensible measures to ensure WA’s energy transition is fair and properly managed,”
Mr Love said.

“Renewable energy is part of WA’s future, but it must not come at the cost of social cohesion, prime farmland, or local decision-making.”

The Cook Labor Government has had eight years to get this right, and in Minister Sanderson’s first attempt to address the issue, she’s already missed the mark.

“It’s time for a genuine commitment to work with regional communities and deliver certainty and clarity.”

ENDS