Approach to this Assessment To provide a coherent and integrated structure for this Assessment of likely adverse environmental effects, the key aspects of relevant legislation, statutory policy and the principles and objectives of ESD have been synthesized into a set of evaluation objectives that are pertinent to the WHP3. A draft set of evaluation objectives was included in the scoping requirements for this EES, which were used by the proponent in their assessment of options and effects within the EES. The inquiry also used the draft objectives to frame its consideration of the key issues of the WHP3. Table 1 lists the final set of evaluation objectives used in this Assessment and the core legislation that underpins them. Table 1. Assessment Evaluation Objectives Key Legislation Evaluation Objectives Road safety and capacity Transport Integration Act 2010 1 To provide for the duplication of the Western Highway between Ararat and Stawell to enhance the safety and capacity of this inter-regional and interstate transport link. Biodiversity FFG Act 2 Wildlife Act 1975 To avoid or minimise effects on flora and fauna species and ecological communities listed under the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988 (FFG Act) or the EPBC Act NVMF 1999, as well as to comply with requirements under Victoria’s Native Vegetation EPBC Act Management - A Framework for Action (2002) (NVMF). Infrastructure and land use P&E Act 3 Transport Integration Act 2010 To avoid or minimise adverse effects on existing infrastructure and land uses. Amenity and landscape P&E Act 4 Environment Protection Act To minimise dust emissions, noise, visual and other adverse effects on residents’ 1970 (EP Act) amenity as well as effects on landscape values. Transport Integration Act 2010 Catchment values Water Act 1989 5 Catchment and Land To protect catchment values, including in relation to soils, surface water and Protection Act 1994 groundwater quality, stream flows and floodway capacity, as well as to avoid impacts on beneficial uses. EP Act P&E Act Cultural heritage AH Act 6 Heritage Act 1995 To protect Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal cultural heritage. P&E Act Environmental management framework P&E Act 7 EP Act To provide a transparent framework with clear accountabilities for managing environmental effects and hazards associated with the project in order to achieve EPBC Act acceptable environmental outcomes. Ecologically sustainable development P&E Act 8 EP Act To achieve an appropriate balance of environmental, economic and social outcomes, consistent with the principles and objectives of ESD and environment protection. Transport Integration Act 2010 EPBC Act
Approach to this Assessment To provide a coherent and integrated structure for this Assessment of likely adverse environmental effects, the key aspects of relevant legislation, statutory policy and the principles and objectives of ESD have been synthesized into a set of evaluation objectives that are pertinent to the WHP3. A draft set of evaluation objectives was included in the scoping requirements for this EES, which were used by the proponent in their assessment of options and effects within the EES. The inquiry also used the draft objectives to frame its consideration of the key issues of the WHP3. Table 1 lists the final set of evaluation objectives used in this Assessment and the core legislation that underpins them. Table 1. Assessment Evaluation Objectives Evaluation Objectives Key Legislation 1 Road safety and capacity To provide for the duplication of the Western Highway between Ararat and Stawell to enhance the safety and capacity of this inter-regional and interstate transport link. Transport Integration Act 2010 2 Biodiversity To avoid or minimise effects on flora and fauna species and ecological communities listed under the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988 (FFG Act) or the EPBC Act 1999, as well as to comply with requirements under Victoria’s Native Vegetation Management - A Framework for Action (2002) (NVMF). FFG Act Wildlife Act 1975 NVMF EPBC Act 3 Infrastructure and land use To avoid or minimise adverse effects on existing infrastructure and land uses. P&E Act Transport Integration Act 2010 4 Amenity and landscape To minimise dust emissions, noise, visual and other adverse effects on residents’ amenity as well as effects on landscape values. P&E Act Environment Protection Act 1970 (EP Act) Transport Integration Act 2010 5 Catchment values To protect catchment values, including in relation to soils, surface water and groundwater quality, stream flows and floodway capacity, as well as to avoid impacts on beneficial uses. Water Act 1989 Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994 EP Act P&E Act 6 Cultural heritage To protect Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal cultural heritage. AH Act Heritage Act 1995 P&E Act 7 Environmental management framework To provide a transparent framework with clear accountabilities for managing environmental effects and hazards associated with the project in order to achieve acceptable environmental outcomes. P&E Act EP Act EPBC Act 8 Ecologically sustainable development To achieve an appropriate balance of environmental, economic and social outcomes, consistent with the principles and objectives of ESD and environment protection. P&E Act EP Act Transport Integration Act 2010 EPBC Act
Western-Hwy-Duplication-3-Ministers-Assessment-Oct-2013.docx