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Under the Victorian Environment Effects Act 1978, the West Field Project required the preparation of an Environment Effects Statement (EES). A referral under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act 1999 was also submitted for the proposed development.
The EES process required environmental impacts of the project to be assessed, including issues impacting upon stakeholders. The key steps in an EES process are:
• The Minister for Planning decides an EES is required due to the potentially significant
environmental impacts of the proposal.
• Draft Assessment Guidelines are prepared and advertised by the Department of
Sustainability and Environment (DSE).
• Assessment Guidelines are finalised by DSE.
• Draft EES is prepared by IPRH and its consultants.
• Draft EES is reviewed by DSE.
• EES is finalised, endorsed by DSE and exhibited by IPRH.
• Independent Panel is appointed to review public submissions, hold public hearings
and provide a report to the Minister for Planning.
• An Assessment Report is prepared by the Minister for Planning and is forwarded to
the relevant government decision-makers.
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