Epuron has today released its Community Consultation Framework.  This Framework has been developed to further enhance Epuron's consultation processes, and will underpin the specific  consultation plans developed for each wind farm and solar energy project that Epuron develops.

Epuron has developed this Consultation Framework to ensure that the consultation which it carries out is effective, meaningful, inclusive, and focussed.

The objectives of Epuron’s consultation are:

• To introduce Epuron and outline its activities and how it goes about its business;
• To build positive, trust-based relationships with the local community, and to deal openly and fairly in all discussions with the community;
• To ensure that each person who wishes to engage with Epuron in relation to a project has ample opportunity to do so;
• To earn the trust of the local stakeholders as a critical first step in becoming a long term member of the community.

In relation to wind farms and solar energy projects, Epuron’s objectives are:

• To understand community concerns in relation to potential impacts of these projects;
• To enhance the understanding and acceptance of wind and solar energy projects and their role in providing clean energy to Australian energy users;
• To provide factual information in relation to wind and solar energy projects, their impacts (both positive and negative) and their operation.

This consultation framework shall also be used in the development of individual consultation plans which will be based on this framework and tailored for each project.