The Victorian Minister for Planning determines when projects require an Environment Effects Statement (EES). An EES assesses a project’s potential for environmental, social, economic and planning impacts. It provides an approach to manage these impacts.

The Minister has decided that the Fingerboards Mineral Sands Project (the project) requires an EES.

Technical reference group

The Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning invited EPA to contribute to the EES Technical Reference Group (TRG). The TRG provided advice to the project on the preparation of the EES. EPA provided advice to a range of studies across the entire project.

Several technical studies have been prepared to inform the EES. While the project proponent is responsible for the completion of the technical studies, EPA reviewed certain studies and EES chapters.

• the study program
• scoping requirements
• stakeholder engagement approach.

We also provided input where relevant to the anticipated construction and operational effects to:

• surface waters
• groundwater
• air quality
• noise
• agriculture
• soil
• greenhouse gas emissions
• land use planning
• human health.

Assessing the project under the law

The Commonwealth Minister for the Environment found that the project needs assessment under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Commonwealth) (EPBC Act).

This is because the project has the potential for significant impact on:

• Ramsar wetlands
• listed threatened species and communities
• listed migratory species
• nuclear actions.

The EES will serve as the assessment process for EPBC Act matters, under an agreement between the Commonwealth and Victorian Governments.

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