The Australian Government has released new National Guidelines for Community Engagement and Benefits for Electricity Transmission Projects.
The guidelines set a nationally consistent approach for developers to engage early with communities on new transmission projects.
They expect developers to deliver positive outcomes for regional communities and First Nations groups so they meaningfully benefit from projects.
The guidelines encourage greater community participation in planning new transmission projects. They recommend principles to effectively:
identify and manage project impacts
provide benefits to the communities who host transmission infrastructure.
The guidelines were developed through consultation with state, territory and local government, transmission developers, energy market bodies, industry bodies and community groups.
The guidelines will set the expectation for how developers work with communities to build much needed infrastructure for our energy transition.
New transmission lines will:
connect renewable energy sources to the electricity grid, contributing to lower emissions
deliver more affordable and reliable energy
help to meet our nation's growing energy demand.
