Australia’s clean energy future depends on more than just technology and investment, it depends on how we bring renewable projects to life. We believe the most successful wind, solar and hydropower developments are those that balance progress with preservation. Where community, environment, and project delivery come together from day one.

In this series, we share how our team is unlocking a smoother pathway for approvals, community engagement and environmental planning for many of our renewable energy clients around the world.

Expertise
Communication & Stakeholder Engagement Environment & Social Impact Assessment Energy & Renewables

Part 1: Beyond Green: Balancing Renewables with Biodiversity Protection

Renewables reduce carbon emissions, but their development must also protect biodiversity. Many project sites intersect with sensitive habitats, and our ecological assessments have uncovered previously undocumented species populations. That’s why we take an “avoidance first” approach and design for coexistence.

From rerouting access tracks around threatened flora, to integrating nest box programs and long-term biodiversity offsets. We support clients to meet or exceed environmental obligations in line with regulatory requirements and community expectations.

Learn more from David Wassman

Part 2: Engaging Communities: The Key to Advancing Renewable Energy Projects

Even the best-planned projects can stall without public trust. Securing a social licence means listening early, engaging honestly, and building shared value. It’s not just about communication, it’s about co-creation.

Our community engagement specialists are embedded in multi-disciplinary teams, working side-by-side with engineers and planners. This ensures designs reflect community feedback, engagement is timely and transparent, and economic and social legacies are built into every project.

Learn more from Sarah Davies, Emma Hancock and Skye Jamieson

Part 3: From Proposal to Power: Streamlining Planning and Approvals

Bringing a renewable energy project to market isn’t just about ticking boxes, it’s about setting the right foundations. Regulatory approvals shape everything from footprint and design to delivery timelines and stakeholder trust. When planning, environment and engineering teams collaborate early, developers can reduce risk, improve certainty, and streamline delivery.

We’ve helped fast-track hydropower, wind and solar projects by identifying key constraints early, staging assessments strategically, and using tools like GIS to make evidence-based decisions.

Learn more from Nirvana Searle and Isaac Harslett

Why It Matters

The clean energy transition requires speed, but not at the expense of quality. By integrating ecology, engagement, planning and engineering from the start, renewable energy projects can move faster and deliver better outcomes for nature and communities.

At SMEC, our multidisciplinary teams have supported approvals, engagement and environmental planning for some of the most significant renewable projects both locally and abroad. We work closely with government and industry partners to navigate complexity and unlock success from concept to construction.

 

Bringing Good Projects to Market

Connect with our team to learn how we can help you bring your renewable energy project to market: faster, smarter, and with integrity.

Meet the Authors

Melissa Zulpo

Mellissa Zulpo
Regional Manager, Environment (ANZ), SMEC
Ali Golshani

David Wassman 
Regional Manager, Environment (ANZ), SMEC
Ali Golshani

Person 3
Principal & Team Lead – Ecology
Alexandre Gomes

Mellissa Zulpo
Regional Manager, Environment (ANZ), SMEC
Ali Golshani

David Wassman 
Principal & Team Lead – Ecology
Ali Golshani

David Wassman 
Principal & Team Lead – Ecology
Alexandre Gomes

Mellissa Zulpo
Regional Manager, Environment (ANZ), SMEC
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