SLR responds to the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage consultation on the Draft Renewable Energy Planning Code

Post Date: 20 April 2026
Read Time: 2 minutes

In December 2025, the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage commenced public consultation on the Draft Renewable Energy Planning Code (Code), a new planning code made under Part 3A of the Planning and Development Act 2005 in accordance with the Planning and Development (Planning Codes) Regulations 2024. The Code aims to provide a clear and consistent development assessment framework for energy infrastructure that supports the generation, storage and transmission of renewable energy across Western Australia.

SLR is pleased to provide comments on the Code based on our experience with development approvals across a wide range of renewable projects, especially wind farms. SLR supports the establishment of a clear, consistent and modern State‑wide development assessment framework for renewable energy infrastructure. The Code is expected to improve certainty for industry, government and the community through standardised development application requirements and clear guidance on the management of land‑use and environmental impacts.

We support a development assessment approach that enables appropriate decision‑maker discretion based on planning merit, supported by a performance‑based framework that contains meaningful Acceptable Outcomes and Explanatory Guidelines that provide clarity, context and justification for assessment outcomes.

To help provide practical and effective guidance, our submission included several key recommendations and insights, based on our extensive approvals experience in the renewable energy sector:

Provision of performance-based outcomes for each development element, promoting flexibility and innovation to meet the Code’s development objectives.
Provision of detailed justification and explanation for Acceptable Outcomes, especially in relation to WF – EO1.1 Safety.
Retention of flexible development approval pathway choice to support efficient ‘green energy’ transition and the opportunity for public participation.
Improved clarity on noise regulation statutory tools specific to assessing wind farm noise, including future amendments to the Environmental Protection (Noise) Regulations 1997.
Improved definition regarding the methodology for the prediction of wind turbine noise, and to account for cumulative emissions.
Improved clarity on the acceptable extent of noise impact on neighbours, and the requirement for noise monitoring reports.
Enhanced guidance on the requirement of turbine lighting.
Appropriate timeframes for preparing supporting management plans and studies commensurate with the conceptual development approval stage.

Overall, SLR is pleased to have contributed to the consultation process and looks forward to the delivery of well‑planned renewable energy outcomes across Western Australia.