New Rules for Lease Hearings and Offshore Wind Infrastructure Licences
Energy and Public Land Legislation Amendment (Enabling Offshore Wind Energy) Bill 2024
Legislative Assembly
Legislative Council
Assent
Topics
crown land electricity transmission energy infrastructure industrial leases land use offshore wind energy
Introduced by: The Hon Ingrid Stitt MLC (ALP); Lily D'Ambrosio MP (ALP)
Links to official parliament websites
Effects of this bill
If this bill passes, it means that:
Applicants for leases and licences under the Land Act 1958 no longer have a public hearing process to demonstrate their bona fides.
The Energy Minister must notify a lessee and their mortgagees if the lessee fails to comply with conditions of an industrial, industrial development, or industrial purchase lease.
The Governor in Council can forfeit industrial leases via the Government Gazette if a lessee fails to fix a non-compliance issue.
The Energy Minister can grant licences for up to 21 years to enter Crown land to investigate offshore wind electricity transmission infrastructure.
Decision makers must consult the Minister responsible for the Electricity Industry Act 2000 when considering offshore wind licence applications.
Holders of offshore wind licences cannot transfer their licence to another party without the Energy Minister's written consent.
The Energy Minister can vary or revoke an offshore wind licence after consulting the Minister responsible for the Electricity Industry Act 2000.
The Energy Minister can enter agreements with electricity companies to use land for future purposes not currently related to electricity generation, transmission, or distribution.