• February 19, 2026
• By JEP Team
• News

Erik Larsen, Senior Consultant, JEP Environment & Planning

Roadblocks to getting bioeconomy projects approved can be caused by both regulators and business proponents. Many roadblocks are avoidable, but they can create frustration, significant delays and costs, or at worst failure to gain an approval.

Specialist regulators might be very knowledgeable in their area of expertise but lack an understanding of a technology’s broader context. Manageable impacts (e.g. through mitigation) in one discipline may obscure larger benefits across multiple disciplines.

Regulators might also hold negative preconceptions or misconceptions about a technology and be hyper-cautious in their assessment – particularly if the technology is controversial or receives negative media attention. A limited depth of knowledge could be overcome by deep-dive research into a proposed technology, helping a regulator carry out their science-based due diligence assessment.

But in practicality, they rely heavily on the quality of the information provided by a proponent. If the information provided to them is poorly organised, unclear or missing key information, delays and an unfavourable outcome may result.

For the proponent, early identification of a realistic and achievable planning and approval pathway is critical.

To minimise the chances of a refused or failed application, a proponent is advised to prepare the following information in writing:

• Detailed preliminary project scope, including a thorough description of plant, equipment, processes and operations.
• Due diligence assessment outlining the relevant permits/licensing required, permissibility and likely environmental studies that may be required based on the proposed location.
• Pre-lodgement meeting(s) with the relevant Council, DPHI and/or agencies to explain the project and confirm all government requirements.

Though the road may be bumpy, once the planning pathway is confirmed and regulator expectations are understood, the full application process can proceed more smoothly.

To view more of AIEN’s essay series visit LATEST UPDATES • Australian Industrial Ecology Network

To see how we can assist in securing planning approval for your next bioeconomy project, please contact us on (02) 8056 1849 or email us at admin@jacksonenvironment.com.au. More info at https://www.jacksonenvironment.com.au