Environment Assessments: How State and Federal Governments work together

You will need to submit referrals concurrently to the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment and the ACT Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate. If the project needs to be assessed under both ACT and Australian Government law the two agencies will seek to undertake the assessments under a single process.

Once the assessment has been completed, decisions under both ACT and Australian Government laws will be made whether to approve the project.

• The Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment is responsible for the EPBC Act, which relates to matters of national significance. For more information, visit EPBC Act or call 1800 803 772.
• The ACT Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate is responsible for the ACT Planning and Development Act 2007. For information on the Planning and Development Act 2007 visit the ACT Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate website or submit an enquiry via: Land, Planning and Building enquiries.

You will need to submit referrals at the same time to the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment and the NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment. If the project needs to be assessed under both NSW and Australian Government law the two agencies will seek to undertake the assessments under a single process.

Once the assessment has been completed, decisions under both NSW and Australian Government laws will be made whether to approve the project.

• The Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment is responsible for the EPBC Act, which relates to matters of national significance. For more information visit: EPBC Act or call 1800 803 772.
• The NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment is responsible for the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979. For information on the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979, visit the NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment website, call 1300 305 695 or fill out the enquiry form at: Contact us online.

You will need to submit referrals concurrently to the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment and the Northern Territory Environment Protection Authority. If the project needs to be assessed under both Northern Territory and Australian Government law the two agencies will seek to undertake the assessments under a single process.

Once the assessment has been completed, decisions under both Northern Territory and Australian Government laws will be made whether to approve the project.

• The Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment is responsible for the EPBC Act, which relates to matters of national significance. For more information visit: EPBC Act or call 1800 803 772.
• The NT Environment Protection Authority is responsible for assessing the environmental impacts of development proposals under the Environmental Assessment Act 1982. For information on the Environmental Assessment Act 1982 visit the Northern Territory Environment Protection Authority website, call (08) 8924 4218 or email ntepa@nt.gov.au.

You will need to submit referrals concurrently to the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment and, either the Queensland Department of Environment and Science or the Queensland Department of State Development, Manufacturing, Infrastructure and Planning.

If the project needs to be assessed under both Queensland and Australian Government law the two relevant agencies will seek to undertake the assessments under a single process.

Once the assessment has been completed, decisions under both Queensland and Australian Government laws will be made whether to approve the project.

• The Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment is responsible for the EPBC Act, which relates to matters of national significance. For more information visit: EPBC Act or call 1800 803 772.
• The Queensland Department of Environment and Science is responsible for the assessment of large resource projects under the Environmental Protection Act 1994. For information on the Environmental Protection Act 1994, visit the Department of Environment and Science website or call 1300 130 372 or email palm@des.qld.gov.au.
• The Queensland Department of State Development, Manufacturing, Infrastructure and Planning is responsible for the assessment of infrastructure projects of economic, social and/ or environmental significance to Queensland under the State Development and Public Works Organisation Act 1971. For information on the State Development and Public Works Organisation Act 1971 visit the Department of State Development, Manufacturing, Infrastructure and Planning website, call 13 74 68 or email info@dsdmip.qld.gov.au.

You will need to submit referrals concurrently to the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment and either the South Australia Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure or the South Australia Department of Premier and Cabinet.

If the project needs to be assessed under both South Australian and Australian Government law the two relevant agencies will seek to undertake the assessments under a single process.

Once the assessment has been completed, decisions under both South Australian and Australian Government laws will be made whether to approve the project.

• The Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment is responsible for the EPBC Act, which relates to matters of national significance. For more information visit: EPBC Act or call 1800 803 772.
• The South Australia Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure is responsible for assessment of proposals to issue a development approval under the Development Act 1993. For information on the Development Act 1993 including environment impact assessments and major developments visit the South Australia Planning Portal website, call 1800 752 664 or email majordevadmin@sa.gov.au.
• The South Australia Department of Premier and Cabinet is responsible for assessment of mining proposals under the SA Mining Act 1971. For information on the SA Mining Act 1971 visit the South Australia Department for Energy and Mining website.

You will need to submit referrals at the same time to the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment and the Tasmanian Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment or the Tasmanian Planning Commission. If the project needs to be assessed under both Tasmanian and Australian Government law the two relevant agencies will seek to undertake the assessments under a single process.

Once the assessment has been completed, decisions under both Tasmanian and Australian Government laws will be made whether to approve the project.

• The Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment is responsible for the EPBC Act, which relates to matters of national significance. For more information visit: EPBC Act or call 1800 803 772.
• The Tasmanian Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment (Environment Protection Agency) is responsible for primary environment protection and pollution control legislation in Tasmania Environmental Management and Pollution Control Act 1994. For further information on the Environmental Management and Pollution Control Act 1994 visit the Environment Protection Agency website or call the Environmental Policy and Support Services Section on (03) 6165 4599 or enquiries@epa.tas.gov.au.
• The Tasmanian Planning Commission is responsible for assessing major developments that have effects that extend beyond a single council area under the Tasmanian Land Use Planning and Approvals Act 1993 and assessing major development proposals that have statewide effects under the Tasmanian State Policies and Projects Act 1994. For information on the Land Use Planning and Approvals Act 1993 and the State Policies and Projects Act 1994 visit the Tasmanian Planning Commission website, call (03) 6165 6828 or email tpc@planning.tas.gov.au.

You will need to submit referrals concurrently to the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment and the Victorian Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning. If the project needs to be assessed under both Victorian and Australian Government law the two agencies will seek to undertake the assessments under a single process.

Once the assessment has been completed, decisions under both Victorian and Australian Government laws will be made whether to approve the project.

• The Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment is responsible for the EPBC Act, which relates to matters of national significance. For more information visit: EPBC Act or call 1800 803 772.
• The Victorian Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning is responsible for assessment of projects under the Major Transport Projects Facilitation Act 2009, the Environment Effects Act 1978 and in some circumstances, the Planning and Environment Act 1987. If assessment under the Environment Effects Act 1978 is not required, an assessment may be undertaken by another state agency under other relevant legislation, such as the Water Act 1989.

For information on the Victorian environment legislation visit the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning website, call the Impact Assessment Unit on (03) 8392 5474 or email environment.assessment@delwp.vic.gov.au.

You will need to submit referrals at the same time to the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment and the Western Australia Department of Water and Environmental Regulation. If the project needs to be assessed under both Western Australian and Australian Government law the two relevant agencies will seek to undertake the assessments under a single process.

Once the assessment has been completed, decisions under both Western Australian and Australian Government laws will be made whether to approve the project.

• The Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment is responsible for the EPBC Act, which relates to matters of national significance. For more information visit: EPBC Act or call 1800 803 772.
• The Western Australia Department of Water and Environment Regulation is responsible for the assessment of projects likely to have a significant environmental effect on the environment under the Western Australia Environmental Protection Act 1986. For information on the Environmental Protection Act 1986 visit the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation website, call (08) 6364 7000 or email info@dwer.wa.gov.au.