News
18 February, 2025
Community benefits off BESS spark research
The company behind a controversial battery storage project has contracted independent researchers to ask residents how the development could benefit the community.
Battery energy storage system (BESS) developer, Enervest, lodged a development application with Somerset Council in 2023 to build a battery storage facility consisting of approximately 256 inverters and 512 battery enclosures in Hazeldean.
It would be one of the largest of its kind in Queensland if approved.
However, it has been met with strong community resistance, including a vocal opposition group called Save Somerset.
Research group, Taverner, last week undertook a series of focus groups with randomly selected residents from the 4515 postcode.
Questions to residents included trying to understand the kinds of benefits the community would like to see if the project were to be approved and what their most important values and priorities are.
One of the questions to residents asked: “If the development application is approved, what benefits would be recognised and how this would assist Kilcoy (& surrounding area).”
Another asked: “What does Kilcoy (& surrounding area) need?”
A public survey has now also been launched to give everyone in the local community an opportunity to share their feedback.
This is open until March 7, with Enervest saying the results of the survey and focus groups will help inform a Community Benefits Strategy (CBS), if the project were to be approved.
Enervest said the purpose of the CBS is to identify how the project and company can benefit the community.
“We’d love to hear from you how we can deliver a meaningful legacy to the local area, should the project go ahead,” the Hazeldean Project Team said in a statement.
“The project remains in the development and approvals process with Somerset Regional Council, and no decision has been made regarding its approval.
“If the project is approved, your voice will help us build a CBS that reflects local needs and what the community wants.”
Enervest has also said they have been “thoroughly reviewing” all submissions that were received from the community in response to the Development Application (DA), with insights and concerns informing “a number of further studies and an updated design.”
“We understand that the community wants more information about the project and we will soon release summaries of these technical reports so you can see how feedback from the community has been addressed and informed the next stage of project planning and design,” the project team said.
Over 300 public submissions opposing the DA were received by Council in May of last year.
Council will resume its decision period on March 3, following two requests for further information from Enervest last year.
The Community Benefits Survey is here:
https://app.converlens.com/rpsgroup/hazeldean-bess-community-benefits-survey/new-survey
Further queries to discuss the survey or other matters can email hazeldean@enervest.com.au, or request a phone call-back on 07 2102 4250.
