In the January 9 edition of the Moreton Border News, we reported that Libra Energy had submitted an application for a large scale Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) on 62ha of land beside the Rosewood Warrill View Road.
The development application was accompanied by 20 documents including an outline of the proposal and an array of expert reports.
Our report was correct.
What made our report incorrect was our failure to see document 21, which led to the subsequent withdrawal of the application by Libra Energy.
Document 21 was a letter from the Ipswich City Council declaring that the application was invalid due to recent State Government legislative changes.
To give the pertinent detail, the letter from council to the developer contained the following:
Material Change of Use – Battery Storage Facility – 670, 702 and 704-722 Rosewood Warrill View Road, Lower Mount Walker Qld4340
I refer to your application submitted to Council on 11 December 2025 for Material Change of Use – Battery Storage Facility to be carried out on land situated at the above referenced property.
I am writing to advise that recent legislative changes under the ‘Planning (Battery Storage Facilities) and Other Legislation Amendment Regulation 2025’, which took effect on 12 December 2025, have amended the regulation of battery storage facility development in Queensland.
Under these changes, all battery storage facility developments with a maximum instantaneous electricity output of 50MW or more are now classified as impact assessable development, and the State Assessment and Referral Agency (SARA) is the assessment manager for these applications. Additionally, the new community benefit system requirements must be satisfied before lodging a development application.
As a result, your current application is now considered invalid and cannot be assessed by Council. You will need to:
– Address the requirements of the community benefit system, including undertaking a social impact assessment and entering into a community benefit agreement; and
– Lodge a new development application with SARA for assessment in accordance with the updated legislation.
Please contact SARA at renewablesplanning@dsdip.qld.gov.au for guidance on the next steps.
(The letter was signed by Michael Simmons, Development Assessment West Manager).
Our apologies for any inconvenience our failure to see the document may have caused to readers.
