REZ readiness assessments

We‘ve developed a detailed process to assess opportunities and impacts of future Renewable Energy Zone (REZ) development and how communities can be supported. This is called a REZ readiness assessment.

The assessment process

We've developed a clear approach for undertaking a REZ Readiness Assessment.

Understand local priorities and trends

We’ll start by researching and talking to local people to understand what’s important to your community.

Identify necessary infrastructure

We’ll consider what infrastructure is needed to build the potential REZ and how it will affect the local and regional area.

Assess local and regional impacts of REZ development

We’ll use community feedback to understand which impacts are most important to you.

Develop strategies

We’ll create plans to maximise benefits and minimise impacts of a potential future REZ development.

Take action

We’ll implement actions to ensure coordinated REZ planning and better local outcomes.

Importantly, these assessments help inform ongoing REZ planning and engagement with communities. Any future REZ declarations would be subject to further community consultation before a declaration is made.

What we’ll consider

We’ll consider social, environmental and economic factors when we carry out a REZ readiness assessment for your local region or area.

This includes:

• First Nations considerations
• local infrastructure like roads and bridges
• transport
• workforce
• housing and accommodation
• supply chains and the circular economy (how we recycle and reprocess waste)
• land use and agriculture
• local industry
• environment
• social infrastructure, including health.

Community sessions

Community sessions and assessments for North and Far North and Southern Queensland are due to start in late 2024 or early 2025.

We completed our community sessions and pilot assessments for Central Queensland and the potential Callide REZ in September 2024.

These assessments are not a set-and-forget exercise. We’ll continue to engage closely with local communities, stakeholders and councils to make sure local needs and priorities continue to inform REZ development planning.

How we’ll use our findings

We’ll use the findings from REZ readiness assessments to inform ongoing planning and work across government. This will help ensure a coordinated approach across state agencies.

This includes finding the best way to support communities as they move to renewable energy.

This could involve:

• upgrading local roads
• protecting the local environment
• supporting local industry.

We‘ll also work with Powerlink, who will construct the future transmission infrastructure for REZs, and make sure the findings are used to develop and inform their REZ management plan.

Final reports and recommendations

After each REZ readiness assessment, we’ll release a report summarising the key findings and insights from local communities.

The reports will be available on our website and will help inform ongoing REZ planning and future declarations.

By taking a coordinated approach, we’ll make sure that the planning, infrastructure and processes that are established for renewable energy development support regional communities and deliver better outcomes.

Our findings and actions

Central Queensland and the potential Callide REZ

We’ve outlined our findings and the first actions we’ll take to support the community.

Read the:

• REZ readiness summary report (PDF, 7615.92 KB)
• REZ readiness actions (PDF, 2956.66 KB).

Stay up to date

• Read about the REZ roadmap
• Sign up to receive REZ updates by email