In 2014, the Australian Government and Riverview Projects (ACT) Pty Ltd agreed to a strategic assessment of a proposed development in the West Belconnen area of the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) and New South Wales (NSW). This is now known as Ginninderry. Strategic assessments let us consider impacts to protected matters on a broad scale. Actions covered by a strategic assessment do not need individual approval.
Strategic assessments are a collaboration between the Australian Government and an assessment partner. This collaboration allows for a big-picture approach to safeguarding protected matters from the impacts of development over a long time.
The West Belconnen (ACT/NSW) strategic assessment on this page is finalised. This means the Environment minister agreed to areas where development is allowed. The partner must now implement the environmental commitments and conditions, and is restricted to agreed developments in the program.
The Australian Government has given the partner approval until 2067 to complete the action and reporting requirements.
Overview
The development site, now referred to as Ginninderry, involves land:
- in the ACT, west of the suburbs Holt, Macgregor and Dunlop
- in NSW, up to the Murrumbidgee River and Ginninderra Creek.
The strategic assessment looked at possible impacts of the proposed urban development on:
- listed threatened species and listed ecological communities
- listed migratory species
- any other protected matters present.
The assessment included planned conservation areas and corridors. It ensured that:
- direct, indirect and cumulative impacts are well understood
- avoidance, mitigation and offset strategies are addressed at a broader landscape scale.
It also means individual assessments under Part 9 of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) aren't required. This makes assessment and approval processes more efficient.
For more information, visit the Ginninderry website.
Signed agreement
The strategic assessment agreement was signed on 24 June 2014.
The agreement describes:
- the process to follow
- relevant requirements under the EPBC Act.
Strategic assessment agreement (PDF 675.47 KB)
Terms of reference
The terms of reference for a strategic assessment detail how the strategic assessment partner is to assess the impacts of their proposed development activities.
Terms of reference for the strategic assessment are attached to the agreement.
Impact report
Riverview Projects (ACT) Pty Ltd released the draft program report and draft strategic assessment report for public comment from 14 May to 10 June 2016.
After the public consultation process, these reports were updated and finalised. The strategic assessment report was completed in March 2017. The program report was finalised in April 2017.
Strategic Assessment Report (PDF 15.89 MB)
Strategic Assessment Report (DOCX 27.06 MB)
Program Report (PDF 4.53 MB)
Program Report (DOCX 34.36 MB)
The West Belconnen conservation corridor report, summarising the public consultation process, was finalised in April 2017.
Consultation Report (PDF 6.55 MB)
Consultation Report (DOCX 5.2 MB)
Approved development
On 18 July 2017, the minister endorsed the development program.
Endorsement notice (PDF 61.09 KB)
Endorsement notice (DOCX 61.58 KB)
On 1 September 2017, the minister approved the program's actions.
Final approval decision (PDF 960.74 KB)
Final approval decision (DOCX 70.97 KB)
Post-approval reviews
The strategic assessment partner must make reporting documents available to the public, including the:
- annual report
- program review report (every 5 years)
- independent audit (every 5 years).
They must also submit these documents to us.
Find these reports on the Ginninderry project website.
Get in touch
Contact our Referrals Gateway team:
- Email: epbc.referrals@dcceew.gov.au
- Phone: 1800 423 135 between 9 am and 5 pm Canberra time.