The brief
A proposed 7MW solar energy facility on land in a Special Use Zone, governed by Environmental Significance, Significant Landscape and Bushfire Management Overlays. The use could not be delivered via a standard planning permit pathway — it required a planning scheme amendment under Section 20(4) of the Planning and Environment Act 1987 to introduce a Specific Controls Overlay and an incorporated document giving direct effect to the facility. The case also had to engage the State Planning Policy Framework on renewable energy, Clause 53.13 (Renewable Energy Facility), and the Department's Solar Energy Facilities Design and Development Guideline.
How we handled it
Perry Town Planning prepared the planning scheme amendment and authored the incorporated document at the heart of it. The pathway pursued was Ministerial approval under delegation rather than the Council/Panel pathway, reflecting the State interest in renewable energy supply. The document framed the project against the renewable energy policy suite, Clause 53.13 particular provisions, and the Solar Energy Facilities design guideline, and addressed Environmental Significance, Significant Landscape and Bushfire Management Overlay constraints.
The result
Amendment C202knox to the Knox Planning Scheme was approved on 3 April 2025 by the Director, Energy Assessment at the Department of Transport and Planning, under delegation from the Minister for Planning. The amendment introduced a Specific Controls Overlay and 'The Basin Solar Farm Incorporated Document (Perry Town Planning, March 2025)' — facilitating the use and development of the 7MW solar energy facility, associated buildings and works, and vegetation removal. Knox City Council subsequently issued Planning Permit P/2025/6008 on 23 February 2026 for the accompanying two-lot subdivision, completing the planning pathway.