Molonglo Valley Strategic Assessment
The Molonglo Valley Plan for the Protection of Matters of National Environmental Significance (NES Plan) was approved on 20 December 2011 by the Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities, the Honourable Tony Burke. The Molonglo Valley development is subject to a number of environmental assessment processes under both Commonwealth and ACT legislation.
Strategic Assessment
In 2008, the Commonwealth Minister for the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts (DEWHA) now Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and communities (SEWPaC) and the ACT Minister for Planning (now Environment and Sustainable Development Directorate (ESDD) signed an agreement to undertake a strategic assessment of the proposed Molonglo Valley development under s. 146 of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act).
The strategic assessment is one of the first of its kind in Australia in relation to urban development.
The Draft Strategic Assessment Report of the Molonglo Valley Plan for the Protection of Matters of National Environmental Significance evaluates matters of national environmental significance (including threatened species, migratory species and important ecological communities) across the Molonglo Valley and recommends a range of management and mitigation measures. The Framework for the Draft Molonglo Valley Plan for Protection of Matters of National Environmental Significance sets out the policies and procedures that will ensure development will not cause unacceptable impacts on matters of national environmental significance.
As part of the public consultation process, the public were invited to comment on the Strategic Assessment Report and the framework and drop-in information sessions were held at Weston Creek and Belconnen in early April. The consultation period closed on 23 April 2010. Following public consultation, the documents were be finalised and submitted to the Commonwealth Minister for consideration and endorsement of the final Molonglo Valley Plan for Protection of Matters of National Environmental Significance.
Environmental Impact
The ACT Minister for Environment and Sustainable Development exercised his powers under the Planning and Development Act 2007 (ACT) to waive the need for environmental impact statements (EIS) for development of parts of the Molonglo Valley based on the comprehensive environmental investigations already undertaken in association with the Molonglo preliminary assessment.
Report on environmental impact statement exemption for parts of Molonglo (PDF 1.21Mb)
Referrals under the EPBC Act
Referrals under s. 75 and s. 77 of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) were lodged with SEWPaC for the first release areas in Molonglo - north Weston, Wright and Coombs.
Under these sections of the EPBC Act, the Commonwealth Minister for the Environment decides whether a proposed action is likely to have a significant impact on one or more matters protected by the Act. If the Minister decides a significant impact is likely, the action will need to be assessed and approved under the Act before any development can commence. This is called a ‘controlled action’.
SEWPaC has determined that the development of North Weston, Wright and the first stage of the north-south arterial road in Molonglo between Streeton Drive and Holden Creek is not a controlled action. SEWPaC has also determined that the development of Coombs is not a controlled action, provided it is undertaken in accordance with the conditions set out in the decision by SEWPaC. ACT Planning (now ESDD) submitted a Reconsideration of Referral Determination: 578A and SEWPaC determined that the development is not a controlled action, provided it is undertaken in the manner set out in the decision by SEWPaC.
