Our role in assessing major developments
Planning Stage | Description | What the NSW Department of Industry does | What is required from proponents |
NSW Mining & Petroleum Gateway | The Mining and Petroleum Gateway process adds an upfront step to the assessment of large mining and CSG production projects located on Strategic Agricultural Land in NSW. | We provide important technical advice on the potential water impacts of a particular proposal for the Minister's consideration. | The proponent is required to undertake a preliminary assessment of the proposal against a standard set of targeted scientific criteria, developed by the NSW Mining and Petroleum Gateway Panel, relating to agricultural and water impacts. |
Planning Focus Meeting (PFM) | For more complex projects, DP&E may convene a PFM with relevant government agencies and local councils prior to or immediately following the lodgement of an application for SEARs by a proponent. | Our assessing officer/s may attend PFMs to gain an initial understanding of the project and potential water-related issues. | Ensure a clear outline of the proposal is provided, including maps, water courses etc. |
Secretary's Environmental Assessment Requirements (SEARs) | The proponent lodges a development application with DP&E and seeks the Environmental Assessment (EA) requirements. These requirements outline what needs to be included/addressed in the project EIS. | We review the proponent's preliminary environmental assessment and provides advice to DP&E as to what should be included in the SEARs. | Ensure a clear outline of the proposal is provided, including maps, water courses etc.
|
Test of Adequacy (ToA) | The proponent or DP&E may circulate the draft EIS for relevant agencies to review and decide if it meets the Secretary's EA requirements issued by DP&E. | We undertake a basic adequacy check against the SEARs issued by DP&E, to see if the information requested has been addressed/included in the draft EIS. | Provide a clearly set-out draft EIS with a contents table at the front that identifies where information for particular SEARs is located within the report. |
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) | The proponent submits their final EIS to DP&E. It is placed online for public exhibition for a minimum of 28 days . Both Government agencies and the public have the opportunity to comment on the EIS during this time. | We undertake a full merit assessment of the EIS against the SEARs. This includes seeking advice from technical experts within the organisation (e.g. groundwater and/or surface water modelling and management). | Provide a clearly set-out final EIS that includes an assessment of any additional water-related issues identified at the ToA stage. |
Response To Submissions (RTS) | The proponent responds to submissions received regarding the proposal. | We provide advice to DP&E as to whether the proponent's response adequately addresses concerns raised at the EIS stage. | The RTS report should provide a clear response to each issue raised, preferably in a table format, or with a separate section for each agency. |
Draft Conditions of Approval (CoAs) | DP&E circulates draft conditions of approval for agencies and the proponent to comment on. | We provide recommendations to DP&E regarding the adequacy of the draft conditions. | |
Modification (MOD) | The modification of a previously approved major project. | We provide advice to DP&E at each stage it is consulted (SEARs, EIS, CoAs). | Provide clearly set-out supporting documentation. |
Final Determination | DP&E makes a final determination on whether the project can go ahead. | We provide a record of the final determination, including the conditions of approval is kept for future reference. | |
Post-approval | Anything else post-approval that requires review or ongoing reporting. | We play an ongoing role in auditing and reporting through the conditions of a development consent/approval. | May involve more in-depth discussions with our technical experts. |