Have your say - Public notification open!
Development Application submitted
EPBC determined a non-controlled action.
Upcoming community drop-in session in Chinchilla
14/10/2025
Join us at our upcoming community drop-in session in Chinchilla, scheduled for Wednesday the 12th November.
Community members are invited to attend a drop-in information session to learn more. Drop in anytime to meet the team, ask questions, and share your feedback.
Venue: Chinchilla RSL, Heeney Street, Chinchilla
Date: Wednesday, 12 November 2025
Time: 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm (drop in anytime)
Refreshments will be provided
Your feedback is important and will help shape the project as planning progresses.
Latest project updates and news - September 2025
Project updates
12/12/2025
The project is now open for public notification. Members of the public and the local community are invited to make a submission between the following dates.
Friday 12th December 2025 and Friday 16th January 2026.
Formal project details are as follows:
Proposed Development description:
· Development Permit for a Material Change for a Battery Energy Storage System: Belah BESS, and underground transmission lines
· Reconfiguration of a Lot for long term lease.
· Construction of BESS and supporting infrastructure (Access tracks and underground cabling).
Where:
· Kogan Condamine Road, Crossroads, Qld
On:
· Lot 27 on RG653
Approval sought:
· Development Permit for Material Change of Use for Battery Energy Storage System and transmission lines; and Reconfiguring a lot for long term lease
You can view the application and make a submission in the following ways:
1. Search the application reference number: 030&035.2025.717.001 on https://developmenti.wdrc.qld.gov.au
2. A copy of the application can be obtained from Western Downs Regional Council assessment officer and a submission made to Kym Bannerman via Kym.Bannerman@wdrc.qld.gov.au or 07 4679 4348
3. You can access the application here: https://developmenti.wdrc.qld.gov.au/Home/FilterDirect?filters=DANumber=030.2025.00000717.001
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact a member of the project team to discuss further.
29/10/2025
A Development Application (DA) has been lodged with Western Downs Regional Council (WDRC) and the State Referral and Assessment Agency (SARA) in support of the Belah BESS project.
The application follows months of detailed technical surveys and reporting to determine important information such as stormwater management, bushfire management, visual impact, traffic impact and noise related to the BESS.
Following initial review and assessment by WDRC & SARA, the application will be made available for public exhibition and comment. We’ll provide an update here when this is occurring and welcome all feedback and input on the project to assist in guiding the design and development.
For more information, you can contact us directly on belahbess@lprp.net to request a call back by a member of the project team.
16/10/2025
The Belah BESS has been determined as a EPBC non-controlled action by the Department of Climate Change, Energy, and the Environment & Water (DCCEEW).
This follows an assessment against the EPBC Act by DCCEEW of the projects environmental impacts and proposed mitigations put in place to limit harm to areas of habitat and ecological value.
The Belah BESS is located on existing cleared grazing land and has minimised it’s footprint to limit impact on vegetation. The project has taken the deliberate step in connecting the high voltage transmission that links the BESS to the Orana substation via an underground corridor, thereby achieving a reduced works corridor from 60m down to 20m.
The non-controlled actions means that DCCEEW is satisfied that the project will implement suitable environmental controls and has limited impact on areas of high value ecology.
The EPBC outcome is related to the Federal Government only and is separate from the Development Application process, with applications through local and state authorities due to commence shortly.
05/09/2025
We are pleased to provide the latest project updates below to communicate how feedback from the community to-date is influencing the project development. Members of the project team would be happy to make themselves available to discuss any of the below upon request either in-person or by phone.
Project name: In response to community feedback the project will no longer be referred to as ‘Avenue Road BESS’. The project name has been changed to ‘Belah BESS’ from this time on.
Traffic: The findings of the traffic impact assessment identified that using State Roads during the construction period is preferred. Therefore, the majority of project related traffic during construction will access via the Kogan Condamine Road and Chinchilla Tara Road. Traffic on Avenue Road and other surrounding Council roads as such will be limited.
Noise: Noise modelling has been undertaken and confirmed that the site design will comply with State Government requirments (State Code 26).
Bushfire: The project team have been engaging closely with the area commanders of the RFS and Fire & Rescue Service and have commissioned a bushfire hazard report by a specialist bushfire consultant. A full fire safety plan, managed bushfire management zones and fire suppression systems will be implemented as part of the ongoing project development.
Location & land use: The BESS has been located a minimum of 2km away from the nearest dwelling and cannot be seen from any private properties or public roads. The BESS will make use of approx. 2% of the host property’s land, with existing agricultural operations able to continue along side.
Ecology: The BESS is situated in an open paddock which has traditionally been used for cattle grazing. Limited clearing of lower-value remnant vegetation will be required for the electrical connection to the Orana substation. The project has opted for an underground connection to minimise disturbance to vegetation and has been designed based on the outcomes of ecological surveys,
Community Benefits: The project intends to establish a community benefit fund. This is to ensure that the community which lives closest to the BESS share the benefits and we welcome feedback and input into how the funds are best allocated.