Speeches by Young.

“Could further amendments to the NPSs support the intent of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill to consent projects faster and ensure smooth transition until those reforms come into force?”

“Graham, do you have anything to add?”

“Is there not a mixed message coming from the Government on this, if they are making it not a requirement but at the same time are trying to set out in the guidance how it should be done?”

“Ali, do you want to add anything?”

“Let us move on to the question of grid connections, which we discussed in the previous session. Again, I will start with Peta. The National Infrastructure Planning Association has referred to misunderstandings emerging about the role of the regional capacity targets in the Clean Power 2030 Action Plan. What further cla…”

“Graham, should national policy statements give significant weight to the availability of a grid connection for a proposed project?”

“Is there not a bit of a chicken and egg thing here, in that the Government is looking to prioritise new grid connections based on projects being ready to go, including having planning consent, but if you give weight to the availability of existing grid connections, those projects that don’t currently have one will not …”

“Peta, we have heard that objectors to infrastructure projects are already demanding sight of commercial and grid connection agreements. Shouldn’t that be necessary, if grid connections are to be a relevant consideration?”

“If we give significant weight to grid connection, is that not going to tip the balance even further in favour of infrastructure build, and raise concerns about overlooking environmental and other considerations?”

“Thank you.”

“Julian, you seemed to suggest earlier that it was not possible for you to communicate with the whole of the public, but, in producing the electricity transmission design principles, how will you ensure that there is close engagement with the communities who will host these transmission projects, so that the rules do no…”

“How will the EDP interact with existing guidance on overhead lines? Does that not need to be explained in the national policy statements as well?”

“So you do not expect there to be any conflict between the two.”

“Julian, is it not premature for the national policy statements to endorse the principles at this stage, when they have not yet been put to public consultation?”

“Lawrence, the draft update says that the principles will not apply to projects that have already been through the strategic front-end design phase. Would a better transitional approach not be to apply them to all projects as much as is possible?”

“We have heard that national policy statements could provide much clearer guidance on what is considered proportionate—this is in relation to solar farms, by the way—when investigative archaeological work is required. Chandni, would you agree?”

“It has also been suggested that both the national policy statements and the agricultural land classification could usefully be updated to protect agricultural production while recognising the patchwork nature of land grading. Do you agree with that?”

“How would you respond to an explicit requirement for renewable developers to reinstate any negatively affected farmland to a good agricultural condition?”

“I was thinking about national food security. That is not just about the individual farmer, their business and what is best for their own business. It is about protecting the best farmland in order to continue food production.”

“Eleri and Chandni, did you have anything on that note?”