Queensland has recently passed legislation which ensures that all venues being built for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games are exempt from 15 major planning rules, so projects are not held up by potential legal challenges. The Queensland government anticipates there will be early building works beginning soon.
One of these exemptions allows for development at Brisbane’s Victoria Park. However, this has created backlash and formed a group named Save Victoria Park to protest infrastructure occurring on the green space. The Queensland Conservation Council director, Dave Copeman, stated that the government had ignored hundreds of appeals from the community and key stakeholders from using up this natural area. He has also stated that development should be “rigorously assessed and held to a high standard on First Nations engagement, community benefits and nature protection.”
This new legislation has also implemented new changes for the approval of renewable energy projects and prioritising regional community interests to ensure that infrastructure goals are achieved. Large-scale wind and solar farms will require mandatory public consultation, and developers would need to enter into binding community benefit agreements with local councils. Although, some councils say the legislation imposes upfront processes that delay real outcomes.
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