Environment Effects Statement...

Commonwealth requirements

On November 24, 2005 the Commonwealth Minister for the Environment and Heritage, under delegation, decided that the project was a ‘controlled action’ and therefore required assessment and approval under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act 1999).

The controlling provisions are associated with listed threatened species and communities, in this case, principally Buloke woodlands.

On February 6, 2006 the Commonwealth Minister decided that the assessment required under the EPBC Act 1999 would be by an accredited process - the Victorian ESS process. At the conclusion of the EES process, a copy of the Victorian Minister for Planning’s assessment will be provided to the Commonwealth Minister for the Environment and Heritage.

The Commonwealth Minister will then make a decision on whether or not to approve the project under the terms of the EPBC Act 1999, and if so, under what conditions.