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Department of Climate Change, Energy, Enviroment and Water

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. Environment
  3. Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act)
  4. Our role in protecting the environment under the EPBC Act
  5. Measuring our performance under the EPBC Act
  6. Quarterly assessment performance report

Sidebar first - EN - EPBC

  • Our performance
    • Quarterly performance report
      • Response to 2020 ANAO Audit Report

Quarterly assessment performance report

Performance Report: April to June 2022

On time key decisions

Since 2019, the Government has increased its investment in reducing unnecessary delays in environmental approvals under the EPBC Act. This investment has significantly accelerated environmental approvals, supporting strong economic development while ensuring the protection of Australia’s unique heritage and environment. The following diagrams and graphs illustrate the department’s improved performance between the December 2019 and June 2022 quarters.

There are no overdue projects from the backlog remaining within the department.

Overview of outcomes for projects referred under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999

This Power BI dashboard may not meet accessibility requirements. Full screen mode can be accessed by clicking the two headed arrow icon on the far-right end of the ribbon. Use the escape (Esc) key to exit. For further information about the content of this dashboard contact EPBC.Referrals@agriculture.gov.au.

Geographic distribution of projects

This Power BI dashboard may not meet accessibility requirements. Full screen mode can be accessed by clicking the two headed arrow icon on the far-right end of the ribbon. Use the escape (Esc) key to exit. For further information about the content of this dashboard contact EPBC.Referrals@agriculture.gov.au.

Industry information

This Power BI dashboard may not meet accessibility requirements. Full screen mode can be accessed by clicking the two headed arrow icon on the far-right end of the ribbon. Use the escape (Esc) key to exit. For further information about the content of this dashboard contact EPBC.Referrals@agriculture.gov.au.

EPBC Act Referral decisions by industry type

This Power BI dashboard may not meet accessibility requirements. Full screen mode can be accessed by clicking the two headed arrow icon on the far-right end of the ribbon. Use the escape (Esc) key to exit. For further information about the content of this dashboard contact EPBC.Referrals@agriculture.gov.au.

EPBC Act Approval decisions by industry type

This Power BI dashboard may not meet accessibility requirements. Full screen mode can be accessed by clicking the two headed arrow icon on the far-right end of the ribbon. Use the escape (Esc) key to exit. For further information about the content of this dashboard contact EPBC.Referrals@agriculture.gov.au.

Improvements in meeting statutory timeframes

This Power BI dashboard may not meet accessibility requirements. Full screen mode can be accessed by clicking the two headed arrow icon on the far-right end of the ribbon. Use the escape (Esc) key to exit. For further information about the content of this dashboard contact EPBC.Referrals@agriculture.gov.au.

Referral decisions made, with number of on time decisions (1 January 2016 to 30 June 2022)

This Power BI dashboard may not meet accessibility requirements. Full screen mode can be accessed by clicking the two headed arrow icon on the far-right end of the ribbon. Use the escape (Esc) key to exit. For further information about the content of this dashboard contact EPBC.Referrals@agriculture.gov.au.

Previous reports

  • Performance Report: January to March 2022
  • Performance Report: October to December 2021
  • Performance Report: July to September 2021
  • Performance Report: April to June 2021

Performance Report: January to March 2021

Highlights

Some of the key highlights of decisions made during January 2021 to March 2021 quarter are listed below.

City to Commonwealth Park Light Rail 2A, ACT (EPBC 2019/8582)
On 2 February 2021, a delegate of the Minister approved a proposal by Major Projects Canberra to extend the existing light rail network from the City to Commonwealth Park, via London Circuit (West) and Commonwealth Avenue. The proposal was approved with 33 conditions to protect the critically endangered Golden Sun Moth (Synemon plana). The light rail is a key component of the ACT’s urban renewal agenda to make it a more liveable city. The conditions include requirements to compensate for the loss of habitat for the Golden Sun Moth; rehabilitate areas that will be temporarily impacted by the proposal and prepare and implement a Golden Sun Moth Construction Environment Management and Rehabilitation Plan (the plan). The plan will be approved by the Minister. In making the decision, public comments received, as well as expert advice was taken into consideration.

Industrial development, 489A Robinsons Road, Truganina, Victoria (EPBC 2020/8645)
On 22 January 2021, a Delegate of the Minister for the Environment approved a proposal by EMKC AU Industrial 2 Pty Ltd to undertake an industrial development within an industrial and logistics precinct at 489A Robinsons Road, Truganina, Victoria. The proposal involves the construction of industrial buildings, carparks and other infrastructure approximately 20 km west of Melbourne’s CBD. The development will impact on Natural Temperate Grassland of the Victorian Volcanic Plain ecological community and Striped Legless Lizard habitat. This loss will be compensated through a single offset site that will be secured and managed in perpetuity. Additionally, the department imposed conditions to minimise impacts to listed threatened species and ecological communities and prevent additional impacts beyond those considered in the assessment. The proposal will deliver social and economic benefits to the local area, including employment opportunities of 500 – 600 construction and related jobs during the construction phase and 380 – 400 on-site jobs of the completed development. The development will involve the upgrade of Middle Road that sits adjacent to the site, improving accessibility and connectivity of neighbouring services in the existing industrial precinct.

Warrawoona Gold Project, Pilbara Region, WA (EPBC 2019/8584)
On 12 February 2021, a delegate to the Minister for the Environment approved the Warrawoona Gold Project, a gold mining and processing operation in the Pilbara Region of Western Australia. The Project will produce gold bar and gold concentrate over at least six years and deliver significant employment opportunities during the construction and operational phases. It will also contribute to the economy through investment, royalties, and corporate taxation. Using modern industrial mining processes, the project will blast, excavate, mill, and treat around 2.5 tonnes of rock per year to extract gold from the Warrawoona Ranges, which are pockmarked with over 200 historic mines dating from the 1800s. Some of these historic mines have since become important bat roosts for large colonies of the EPBC listed threatened Ghost Bat (Macroderma gigas) and Pilbara Leaf-nosed Bat (Rhinonicteris aurantia (Pilbara form)). The mine proposal has been designed to avoid the most important roosts and remove only a few minor refuges used during night foraging. Care has also been taken to retain critical habitat for the Northern Quoll (Dasyurus hallucatus) and Olive Python (Pilbara subspecies) (Liasis olivaceus barroni) within the project’s clearing footprint. The Warrawoona Gold Project is one of the first approvals to condition contributions to the Pilbara Environmental Offset Fund to offset the residual significant impact to these threatened species. The department also worked closely with experts to develop novel contingency measures, such as an artificial roost, should nearby significant bat roosts be adversely impacted by mining activities. This collaboration has also led to the update of the department’s species guidance documents for the Pilbara Leaf-nosed Bat and Ghost Bat.

A complete list of all decisions can be found on the Public Notices website.

On time key decisions

Since 2019, the Government has increased its investment in reducing unnecessary delays in environmental approvals under the EPBC Act. This investment has significantly accelerated environmental approvals, supporting strong economic development while ensuring the protection of Australia’s unique heritage and environment. The following diagrams and graphs illustrate the department’s improved performance between the December 2019 and March 2021 quarters as a result of the congestion busting agenda.

There are no overdue projects from the backlog remaining within the department.

Overview of outcomes for projects referred under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999

Outcomes for all referrals received under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 since July 2000 (and financial year to date)

Total referrals received 6634 (186 financial year to date)

 

The Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 came into force on 16 July 2000. This chart presents the outcome of all referrals submitted since then up until 31 March 2021. ‘No decision made’ includes projects that at the reporting date were: undergoing assessment; on hold pending receiving information from the referrer; not progressing to a decision and being formally lapsed. A During this financial year 90 referrals have been determined to be controlled actions and are in the assessment phase. B Referrals determined to be controlled actions are assessed and following this an approval decisions will be made.

Data extracted from Environment Assessment Impact Workflow System 29 April 2021.

Referral decisions by type (this financial year to 31 March 2021)

 

Approved decisions (this financial year to 31 March 2021)

 

Key

  • Not-Controlled Action - The project may proceed without further assessment or approval as long as the action is done as it was described in the referral
  • Not-Controlled Action (Particular Manner) - The project may proceed without further assessment or approval as long as the action is done as it was described in the referral and in accordance with the particular manner(s) described in the decision notice
  • Controlled Action - Further assessment and approval is required before the project can go ahead
  • Clearly Unacceptable – The project may NOT proceed as described in the referral

Data extracted from Environment Assessment Impact Workflow System 8 April 2021.

Referrals received, referral and approval decisions (from July 2000 to 31 March 2021)

Cost recovery commenced on 1 October 2014, number of referrals submitted decreased, projects requiring assessment remained around average

 

Data extracted from Environment Assessment Impact Workflow System 7 May 2021.

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Cost recovery commenced on 1 October 2014, number of referrals submitted decreased, projects requiring assessment remained around average.

Financial Year Number of Referral Decisions Made Number of Approval Decisions Made Number of Referrals Received
2000/2001 263 8 294
2001/2002 308 26 309
2002/2003 325 26 3337
2003/2004 286 27 291
2004/2005 347 28 360
2005/2006 329 36 304
2006/2007 337 44 347
2007/2008 372 53 418
2008/2009 392 55 438
2009/2010 379 68 422
2010/2011 391 106 428
2011/2012 378 75 412
2012/2013 409 80 439
2013/2014 323 100 305
2014/2015 211 80 225
2015/2016 195 56 209
2016/2017 226 64 236
2017/2018 206 64 230
2018/2019 221 70 213
2019/2020 196 80 195
2020/2021 188 56 186

The average number of final decisions made from July 2003 to June 2020 was 63.4 for each financial year.

Geographic distribution of projects

EPBC Act decision in States and Territories since legislation commencement (this financial year to 31 March 2021)

 

Powered by Bing and Bureau of Statistics

Text alternative for infographic

Total of each decision type from commencement of the EPBC Act to 31 March 2021

State / Territory Total for 2020/2021 Total to 31 March 2021
Queensland 86 2270
New South Wales 54 1682
Australian Capital Territory 10 150
Victoria 53 1418
Tasmania 15 308
Northern Territory 6 230
South Australia 8 398
Western Australia 91 1841
Other Places
Commonwealth Marine 1 394
Christmas Island 0 77
Norfolk Island 0 27
Cocos Keeling Island 0 23
Australian Antarctic Territory 0 13
Jervis Bay Territory 0 4
Overseas Australian Territories 0 3
International Waters 0 1
Other Country 0 1

Referral Decisions

State / Territory Total for 2020/2021 Total to 31 March 2021
Queensland 39 1531
New South Wales 37 1139
Australian Capital Territory 6 225
Victoria 29 1028
Tasmania 8 226
Northern Territory 4 154
South Australia 5 310
Western Australia 59 1216
Other Places
Commonwealth Marine 1 337
Christmas Island 0 57
Norfolk Island 0 21
Cocos Keeling Island 0 19
Australian Antarctic Territory 0 10
Jervis Bay Territory 0 4
Overseas Australian Territories 0 3
International Waters 0 1
Other Country 0 1

Assessment Approach Decisions

State / Territory Total for 2020/2021 Total to 31 March 2021
Queensland 28 411
New South Wales 6 299
Australian Capital Territory 2 43
Victoria 17 223
Tasmania 6 43
Northern Territory 2 38
South Australia 0 55
Western Australia 19 343
Other Places
Commonwealth Marine 0 35
Christmas Island 0 11
Norfolk Island 0 4
Cocos Keeling Island 0 3
Australian Antarctic Territory 0 2

Approval Decisions

State / Territory Total for 2020/2021 Total to 31 March 2021
Queensland 19 328
New South Wales 11 244
Australian Capital Territory 2 36
Victoria 7 167
Tasmania 1 39
Northern Territory 2 38
South Australia 1 33
Western Australia 13 282
Other Places
Commonwealth Marine 0 22
Christmas Island 0 9
Norfolk Island 0 2
Australian Antarctic Territory 0 1
Cocos Keeling Island 0 1

Industry information

Referrals by industry type received under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999

 
 

Data extracted from Environment Assessment Impact Workflow System 29 April 2021.

Improvements in meeting statutory timeframes

December quarter 2019 all key decisions 19% on-time, March quarter 2021 all key decisions 99% on-time

 

Data extracted from Environment Assessment Impact Workflow System 8 April 2021.

Referral decisions made, with number of on time decisions (1 July 2015 to 31 March 2021)

 

Data extracted from Environment Assessment Impact Workflow System 29 April 2021.

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In November 2019, the Australian Government invested $25 million to improve timeliness of EPBC Act assessments.

In October 2020, the Australian Government invested $21.2 million for maintaining on-time assessments and to fast track major projects.

 
Year Quarter Total Number of Decisions Made Number of On Time Decisions
2015 Third 57 12
2015 Fourth 48 11
2016 First 42 5
2016 Second 48 18
2016 Third 55 16
2016 Fourth 45 7
2017 First 67 11
2017 Second 59 15
2017 Third 52 8
2017 Fourth 62 2
2018 First 47 3
2018 Second 44 3
2018 Third 59 2
2018 Fourth 54 3
2019 First 49 4
2019 Second 59 3
2019 Third 42 3
2019 Fourth 52 7
2020 First 42 30
2020 Second 60 55
2020 Third 94 92
2020 Fourth 49 48
2021 First 45 45
  • Performance Report: October to December 2020
  • Performance Report: July to September 2020
  • Performance Report: April to June 2020
  • Performance Report: January to March 2020
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Last updated: 20 December 2022

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