Community benefit

What is the community benefit system?

Comprised of two core components, a social impact assessment (SIA) and a Community benefit agreement (CBA), this system requires proponents of prescribed development to conduct a social impact assessment and enter into a community benefit agreement with the local government (as a minimum) before lodging a development application.

What development does the community benefit system apply to?

The Planning Regulation prescribes the following development requiring social impact assessment:

• a wind farm
• a solar farm that has a maximum instantaneous output of 1MW or more
• a battery storage facility that has a maximum instantaneous output of 50MW or more.

These land use terms are defined in the Planning Regulation.

The definition of solar farm and wind farm include the use of premises for other activities, such as facilities or devices for storing and releasing energy, and temporary workers’ accommodation, as examples.

See more information about wind farm and solar farm development, renewable energy and battery storage facility development.

Mediation process

Where the proponent and the relevant local government are unable to reach an agreement on a CBA, and all reasonable steps have been taken to reach an agreement, the parties may make a written request to our department’s Director-General to request mediation.

Request to waive requirement for a social impact assessment or community benefit agreement

There are exceptional circumstances where a proponent may request our department’s Director-General to waive the requirement for an SIA and/or CBA prior to lodging a development application. For example, where an SIA has identified that there are no or only minor social impacts associated with a development.

The proponent may write to the Director-General requesting that the requirement is waived and provide the relevant information as per the Planning Regulation.

Changes to implement the community benefit system

The  Planning (Social Impact and Community Benefit) and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2025 (PSICBOLA Act) introduced the community benefit system into the planning framework in July 2025.  Amendments were also made to statutory instruments to operationalise the PSICBOLA Act in July 2025. The Community benefit system factsheet ( 291.4 KB) provides and overview of the changes made to Queensland’s planning framework through the PSICBOLA Act.