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Coordinator General's report on EIS
If a ‘significant project’ has the potential to cause environmental, social or economic impacts, the project proponent must prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS).
The Coordinator-General is required to write a report evaluating the EIS.
Outline of report on EIS
The report includes the Coordinator-General’s evaluations of, and conclusions regarding, the project’s environmental impacts and proposed mitigation measures.
In writing the report, the Coordinator-General takes into account:
- the EIS (including any supplementary EIS)
- all properly made submissions
- other submissions accepted by the Coordinator-General
- comments and advice from state government advisory agencies and other entities
- technical reports
- legal advice.
Approval/refusal of project
After considering all of this information, the Coordinator-General recommends the project either:
- proceed subject to conditions and recommendations designed to ensure the project’s environmental impacts are properly managed
- be refused on the grounds its environmental impacts cannot be adequately addressed.
The Coordinator-General’s report on the EIS is not an approval in itself. The conditions of approval in the report only gain legal effect when they are attached to an approval given under other specific legislation.
Conditions of approval
The Coordinator-General’s report on the EIS may state conditions that must be attached to a:
- development approval under the Sustainable Planning Act 2009 (SPA)
- proposed mining lease under the Mineral Resources Act 1989
- draft environmental authority (mining lease) under the Environmental Protection Act 1994 (EP Act)
- proposed petroleum lease, pipeline licence or petroleum facility licence under the Petroleum and Gas (Production and Safety) Act 2004
- non-code compliant environmental authority (petroleum activities) under the EP Act.
The report on the EIS may also recommend conditions and requirements relating to:
- a community infrastructure designation under the SPA
- approvals under other legislation that require the preparation of an EIS.
The Coordinator-General can also impose conditions on a project in the absence of a relevant approval regime.
Development approvals
The Coordinator-General’s conditions of approval do not relieve the ‘significant project’ proponent of their obligation to obtain all other relevant development approvals.
Public notification
The Coordinator-General’s report on the EIS is published on the department’s website.
Also, state government advisory agencies, organisations and individuals who made submissions on the EIS are advised in writing of the report’s release.
Fees
There are fees associated with the preparation of the Coordinator-General’s report on the EIS.
Sunset provision
The Coordinator-General’s report on the EIS lapses four years after it is published, unless otherwise formally notified by the Coordinator-General.
