Environmental process for pipeline announced

FROM THE MINISTER FOR PLANNING DATE: Friday, December 28, 2007

An Environment Effects Statement (EES) will not be required for the Sugarloaf Pipeline, Planning Minister Justin Madden said today.

Mr Madden said the decision was made using criteria from the Ministerial Guidelines for Assessment of Environmental Effects under the Environment Effects Act 1978.

“Having reviewed all the information from Melbourne Water I have concluded that an Environment Effects Statement is not required for the Sugarloaf Pipeline,” Mr Madden said.

“The flexible alignment of the pipeline means potential environmental effects can be avoided or mitigated as has been the case with the construction of other pipelines in Victoria including the Goldfields Superpipe and the Wimmera Mallee Pipeline which didn’t require an EES.”

The Sugarloaf Pipeline is a key piece of infrastructure in the $1 billion Food Bowl Modernisation Project, which will see irrigators, the environment and Melbourne share in water savings of around 225 billion litres of water each year.

The 70km Pipeline will transfer Melbourne’s share of the water savings – capped at 75 billion litres of water each year - from the Goulburn River to the Sugarloaf Reservoir.

Mr Madden said a condition of the decision was that further environmental assessments of some elements of the project be conducted when the pipeline route is finalised by Melbourne Water early next year.

“There are some environmental issues which warrant further investigation and further community consultation, which will be worked through as part of this environmental process,” he said.

“These further studies will build on the existing work conducted by Melbourne Water on flora and fauna, cultural heritage, land stability, landscape values, waterway environments, land use and social amenity.

“The report will also evaluate the potential impact on downstream environmental values for the Goulburn River.”

Mr Madden said Melbourne Water has been asked to provide these studies in a Project Impact Assessment report to an independent advisory committee which will be appointed next year.

“The advisory committee will be required to report back to me on the final Project Impact Assessment report, and to provide advice and recommendations about any mitigation actions or offsets required for these environmental issues. The public will also be invited to comment on the Project Impact Assessment report,” Mr Madden said.

The Food Bowl Modernisation Project, the Sugarloaf Pipeline and the Desalination Plant are all part of the $4.9 billion Next Stage of the Government’s Water Plan.

Further details on the Planning Minister’s EES ‘Reasons for Decision’ can be viewed at www.dpcd.vic.gov.au.

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