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Department of Climate Change, Energy, Enviroment and Water

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  2. Environment
  3. Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act)
  4. Middle Arm Sustainable Development Precinct Strategic Assessment

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Middle Arm Sustainable Development Precinct Strategic Assessment

Summary

The Australian and Northern Territory governments will undertake a strategic assessment of the Middle Arm Sustainable Development Precinct (Middle Arm SDP) in the Northern Territory. Strategic assessments are set out in Part 10 of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act).

This Middle Arm SDP strategic assessment will enable the sustainable development of a world-class hub for manufacturing, export, and energy industries. It is located on the Middle Arm of Darwin Harbour.

If approved, this strategic assessment will help to support low emission petrochemicals, renewable hydrogen, carbon capture and storage, minerals processing and other land uses. The assessment will also help to protect environmental values in the project area.

Strategic assessment overview

The Middle Arm SDP covers a total area of approximately 1,500 hectares. Figure 1 sets out the area boundaries.

The strategic assessment will provide long-term certainty to planners, industry and the community, by identifying protected areas, and areas for development. It will also outline the types of development activity and the conditions under which they may occur.

The strategic assessment will streamline approval processes. It will remove the need for individual referral assessments under the EPBC Act, where proposed projects are an approved ‘class of action’ that align with the endorsed Program and meet the approval conditions.

Learn more about strategic assessments.

Figure 1. Middle Arm Sustainable Development Precinct Strategic Assessment - Strategic Assessment Area
Figure 1. Middle Arm Sustainable Development Precinct Strategic Assessment - Strategic Assessment Area

Status

On 31 March 2022, the Commonwealth Environment Minister and the Chief Minister of the Northern Territory agreed to undertake the Middle Arm SDP strategic assessment.

The agreement includes provisions for the development of:

  • terms of reference to prepare a strategic impact assessment report
  • a program for the strategic assessment.

The public consultation period for the draft Terms of Reference is now open.

Provide your feedback

The Northern Territory Government is seeking public comment on the draft Terms of Reference for the Middle Arm SDP strategic assessment until 10 June 2022.

The draft Terms of Reference have been developed collaboratively with the Northern Territory Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics.

Information on how to provide a submission can be found on the Northern Territory Government’s website at:

  • https://haveyoursay.nt.gov.au/middle-arm-sustainable-development-precinct

Once finalised, the Terms of Reference will be published on this page.

Download

Middle Arm SDP strategic assessment agreement (PDF 1.1MB)
Middle Arm SDP strategic assessment agreement (DOCX 729KB)

Timeline

The Northern Territory Government is currently seeking public comments on the draft Terms of Reference for the strategic assessment.  At the completion of this public consultation period, all comments will be considered and addressed where appropriate.

Get in touch

For more information about the Middle Arm SDP strategic assessment, contact the EPBC referrals gateway on 1800 423 135 or EPBC.Referrals@awe.gov.au.

For further information visit:

  • Strategic assessment under the EPBC Act
  • Strategic assessments: Policy Statement for EPBC Act Referrals

 

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