Developer Rating Scheme Lived Experience Panel

Designed to build trust through bringing greater transparency to how renewable developers engage with landholders, neighbours, First Nations, communities and Local Councils.

Why this matters

Released in February 2024, the Dyer Community Engagement Review findings provided a roadmap for better engagement, stronger relationships and fairer outcomes in the energy transition. In response, Commonwealth and State Energy Ministers accepted all recommendations in principle, committing to meaningful improvements in community engagement across the sector.

In October 2024, the Developer Rating Scheme Lived Experience Panel was established by us at the request of the Commonwealth Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) Stakeholder Reference Group. Supported by DCCEEW, Farmers for Climate Action and the Office of the Australian Energy Infrastructure Commissioner (AEIC), the Lived Experience Panel brings together landholders and community members who have first-hand experience hosting or engaging with renewable energy projects. It plays an important role in shaping and reviewing the Developer Rating Scheme.

Find out more about the Renewable Developer Rating Scheme

Impact

The Lived Experience Panel is independently chaired by Charlie Prell, a former wind farm host and ex-Chair of Farmers for Climate Action. The panel includes 10 landholders from NSW, VIC, TAS, SA, WA and QLD who have hosted renewable energy projects or transmission lines at various stages of development, construction and operation.

The inaugural meeting was held online on 30 October 2024 and meetings continued to March 2026. Discussions have centred on how the Developer Rating Scheme can improve community engagement in renewable energy projects.

Key insights included:

Diverse landholder experiences – Some reported strong engagement, while others faced poor communication and lack of transparency from developers
Financial incentives + community tensions – Payment structures often create divides between host and non-host landholders, leading to local conflicts
Challenges with contractors – A need for better renewable developer accountability in managing subcontractors and mitigating disruptions
Limited landholder choice – Many feel they have little say in selecting renewable developers, often taking the first offer due to lack of competition
The role of local councils – Concerns that councils are often sidelined in decision-making, limiting their ability to support communities.

The Lived Experience Panel will continue to provide real-world insights into the ongoing review of the Developer Rating Scheme, ensuring it is objective, independent and transparent.

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You can’t hire a plumber, carpenter, electrician or builder without a licence – even taxi and rideshare drivers are judged on the experience they deliver. Why should it be any different for developers? We are encouraging a rating scheme grounded in lived reality, shaped by the voices of the people who host and neighbour energy projects. True accountability isn’t about policies on paper – it’s about how developers show up in practice, with transparency, trust and respect built in.

Charlie Prell,

Independent Chair, Developer Rating Scheme Lived Experience Panel

Collaborators

Meet our Independent Chair

Charlie Prell

Charlie Prell is a recently retired sheep farmer from Crookwell in the Southern Tablelands of NSW. He sold his farm, which is one of four under the Crookwell 2 windfarm.

Charlie has more than 20 years experience advocating for the benefits of wind farms and renewables, including leadership roles with RE-Alliance and Farmers for Climate Action. Charlie advocates for a comprehensive, inclusive “benefit sharing” model, where the whole community shares in the benefits the infrastructure brings.

Charlie is passionate about the health and wellbeing of small regional communities. He’s committed to assisting these communities to meet the challenge of climate change and realise the benefits of meeting these challenges.

Stakeholder Reference Group

In August 2024, we were invited to sit on the Stakeholder Reference Group for the Developer Rating Scheme by DCCEEW. Its members currently include:

Australian Local Government Association (ALGA)
National Farmers’ Federation (NFF)
Farmers for Climate Action
Clean Energy Council
The Energy Charter.

Energy Networks Australia
Australian Council of Trades Union
RE-Alliance
Clean Energy Finance Corporation
Clean Energy Investor Group
Natural Resource Management
First Nations Clean Energy and Emissions Reduction Advisory Committee
World Wildlife Fund (WWF).

Resources + additional information

Background: Dyer Review

In July 2023, the Commonwealth Minister for Climate Change and Energy tasked Andrew Dyer, the then Australian Energy Infrastructure Commissioner (AEIC) with an independent Community Engagement Review to enhance how communities are involved in renewable energy projects.

The Dyer Review aimed to strengthen trust, transparency, and collaboration by gathering insights from landholders, local communities and key stakeholders living near renewable energy developments.

Released in February 2024, the Dyer Review findings provided a roadmap for better engagement, stronger relationships and fairer outcomes in the energy transition. In response, Commonwealth and State Energy Ministers accepted all recommendations in principle, committing to meaningful improvements in community engagement across the sector.

Read the full Review

What did the Review find?

Developer Rating Scheme Recommendation

Recommendation 1 of the Dyer Review was for a Developer Rating Scheme to improve community engagement by motivating developers to achieve best practice and promote the selection of reputable developers for new project developments.

This #BetterTogether initiative aligns with:

Principle 3: We will provide energy safely, sustainably and reliably.

Learn more

Speak to Sabiene Heindl, CEO, to learn more about the #BetterTogether Developer Rating Scheme Lived Experience Panel.