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23 April 2021
Have your say on the EES process
Public comment is invited on the draft Scoping Requirements for the proposed Lindsay and Wallpolla Island Floodplain Restoration Projects and for the proposed Hattah Lakes North and Belsar–Yungera Floodplain Restoration Projects.
The Minister for Planning has determined that an Environment Effects Statement (EES) is required under the Environment Effects Act 1978 for these proposed projects. The Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) manages the EES process and has prepared draft Scoping Requirements to set out the matters that will be investigated and documented by the proponent (Lower Murray Water) as part of the EES process.
The Commonwealth determined that the project also requires approval under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 due to the potential for impacts on matters of national environmental significance. The EES process will assess impacts on these matters to inform decisions under the EPBC Act. Therefore, the draft Scoping Requirements also address relevant matters of national environmental significance i.e. listed threatened species and communities (sections 18 and 18A).
Where to find the draft scoping requirements
The draft Scoping Requirements are available on the Engage Victoria website:
Have your say on the draft Scoping Requirements, which are open for public comment from 23 April until midnight on 14 May 2021.
All comments received will be considered by the Minister of Planning during the finalisation of the Scoping Requirements and will be treated as public documents. Final scoping documents are expected to be released by DELWP in June 2021.
The remaining five VMFRP sites are being assessed under two Environment Reports (ER) instead of an EES. The two ER scopes are still in preparation by DELWP and will be made public once finalised. There will not be a formal process to obtain public feedback on the ER scopes.
More information
For more information on the EES process, visit planning.vic.gov.au/environmental-assessment or contact the Impact Assessment Unit on (03) 8392 5503 (Monday to Friday).
For more information on these projects, visit our project pages, EES page or email us on info@vmfrp.vic.gov.au
Register here for ongoing project updates.
