News
9 January, 2025
Energex fight with Council goes on
Somerset Council is imploring the State Government ministers to take action to end the ongoing legal dispute with Energex over its Esk Depot.
At its ordinary meeting on 19 December, Council resolved to contact relevant Ministers of the State Government to seek their assistance in determining if there are any alternative means of resolving this matter, with the aim of avoiding a costly and exhaustive hearing in the Planning and Environment Court.
In June 2023, Council considered and refused the application on the basis that the development would conflict with the purpose of a residential zone, and due to concerns of adverse noise impacts.
Energex appealed the ruling to the Planning and Environment Court in July 2023.
Somerset Mayor Jason Wendt said he was disappointed the matter was dragging on as the development, in a suitable location, was important to the community.
“We have made it very clear, on numerous occasions, that Council has a desire to retain the Energex depot within the region, not only to maintain the presence of Energex to support emergency services during natural disasters, but also to avoid disrupting the families of workers who live here in Somerset,” he said.
“We have on numerous occasions proven that we are willing to work with Energex to find a suitable site however to no avail.
“We are now facing a costly and exhaustive hearing in the Planning and Environment Court between Council and Energex, a subsidiary of Energy Queensland Limited, and a State-Government owned corporation.
“Unfortunately, based on advice from legal counsel and having regard to Council’s statutory obligations to administer and uphold the requirements of its planning scheme, it is now likely that Council will be drawn into a costly and exhaustive hearing unless an alternative course can safely as possible.”
“To continue this objective, we’re seeking to construct a new depot near our old one, which will allow our crews to rapidly respond to emergencies and won’t be affected by issues such as flooding,” they said.
be followed to deal with the matter, an expense that will ultimately impact all Somerset ratepayers.”
Council will now write to relevant Ministers ahead of further Planning and Environment Court reviews scheduled in early 2025 and seek resolution without resorting to an extended legal and expensive dispute.
An Energex spokesperson said their local crews’ goal for the past 50 years “has been to ensure the people of Esk’s, and wider Brisbane Valley’s, electricity needs are met as quickly and
“Through the recent minor change process, we have worked to address council’s noise and visual amenity concerns and we will continue working with them to ensure our crews can maintain the first-class service they’ve provided for more than half a century.”
