2022-07-18 General Committee Meeting Agenda

GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                                    18 JULY 2022


Legislative Changes required to enable EUAs in Queensland
Under current arrangements Queensland councils may provide finance to a business or community
organisation or provide a guarantee to a private sector lender on behalf of a business or community
organisation. Such arrangements require the Treasurer’s approval under the Statutory Bodies
Financial Arrangements Act 1982 (SBFA Act). However, the Local Government Act 2009 (LG Act)
specifically prohibits providing a loan to, or a guarantee on behalf of, individuals.
Amendments would be required to the Local Government Act 2009 to allow the equivalent of the
Victorian scheme to operate in Queensland.
To enable EUAs to be offered in Queensland, two pieces of legislation need to be changed:
1.    Local Government Act 2009 to enable the equivalent of the interstate schemes to operate in
      Queensland;
2.    the City of Brisbane Act 2010.
In the event that such amendments were made, individual councils would then need to take up
such an option based on their own policy and financial objectives and arrangements.
Previous Council Consideration
Nil
Finance
Nil associated directly with this report as it is purely seeking consideration of a potential LGAQ
motion and advocacy for legislative change.
Risks & Opportunities
There are numerous opportunities and risks resulting from councils offering EUAs which would
need to be considered in detail should the legislative change occur to enable them to be offered in
Queensland. These would be subject to future reports and consideration.
There is not considered any risk with Council advocating for legislative change to enable EUA’s to
be offered in Queensland should councils wish to take up the option.
Consultation
External Consultation - Community & Stakeholder
Zero Emissions Noosa Inc.
Officers from Maribyrnong Council
Officers from City of Melbourne
Building Better Finance
Sustainable Melbourne Fund
Internal Consultation
Executive Team and relevant staff.

MOTION B – CLIMATE ACTION IN PLANNING SCHEMES – Cr Brian Stockwell
“That the LGAQ calls on the State Government to abandon their position that prevents Council’s
from codifying requirements for energy efficiency, solar power and other emissions reduction and
adaptation provisions relevant to new development in their Planning Schemes.”
Background
It has been advised that the state planning department is currently of the view that planning
schemes can’t include provisions on matters otherwise dealt with in the National Construction
Code. However, other states covered by the same code regularly include such provisions in their
statutory plans.
The advised current position of the Department is working against communities who have set

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