Development of the application for a renewable energy facility requires a comprehensive assessment of the project and site by subject matter experts including::

• Site plan

• Landscape plan

• Cultural heritage assessment / management plan

• Flora and Fauna Assessment

• Arboricultural Assessment

• Agricultural land value assessment 

• Traffic engineering assessment

• Visual impact assessment

• Bushfire planning assessment

• Stormwater assessment

• Tree retention plan

• Acoustic assessment

• Glint and glare assessment

Depending on complexity, the planning process may require the preparation, submission and approval of an Environmental Effects Statement (EES), which will be subject to a referral to the Minister for Planning.

The Planning Permit application to DTP requires that a comprehensive community consultation process be undertaken and that community feedback form part of the application.  

In addition to the community feedback received, the application will also need to outline a number of processes including the methodology for ongoing engagement with the community during the operations and decommissioning of the facility, an analysis of social risks and mitigations, the process for handling complaints and the community benefits that will be provided through the project (via the establishment of a Community Benefits Scheme).

The Planning Permit process includes the right for community members to formally object. Any objection must be considered by the Department as part of the approval process and the right remains for an individual to ultimately appeal to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) should they be dissatisfied with the Departments decision.