Media release - 13 July
2009 - Bilateral agreements for environmental
assessments are now in place between the
Commonwealth and all Australian states and
territories with Victoria and the ACT both
signing agreements in the past month.
The agreements are in
accordance with national environment law,
the Environment Protection and Biodiversity
Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act).
"This is a great
step forward and I am very pleased that
more streamlined environmental processes
are now in place Australia wide," Minister
Garrett said.
Victoria and the ACT
can now run a single environmental assessment
process for projects that require environmental
approval at both a federal and a state/territory
level. This assessment can then be used
by both levels of government in making separate
approval decisions.
"Bilateral assessment
agreements cut out unnecessary duplication
and are a more efficient way of ensuring
we uphold important state and Commonwealth
environmental protection.
"This does not
change the fact that approval for developments
impacting on matters of national environmental
significance sits with me.
"We have worked
closely with the Victorian and ACT governments
in developing these agreements and I am
certain they will assist in the continued
protection of the environment and our precious
biodiversity.
While the signing of
these agreements fulfils a goal set out
by COAG, Minister Garrett said there will
be room to further minimise red tape.
"An independent
review of national environment law, the
EPBC Act, is currently underway. It will
look at opportunities to further reduce
the regulatory burden while maintaining
appropriate and efficient environmental
standards," he said.
The bilateral agreements
can be viewed at www.environment.gov.au/epbc/assessments/bilateral/
+ More
World's best environmental
practice for new mine
Media Release - 14 July
2009 - Highlighting the Australian Government's
commitment to world best practice environmental
standards, a uranium mine in South Australia
has been approved subject to strict approval
conditions which will ensure no credible
risk to the environment.
The environment minister,
Peter Garrett, said approving the Four Mile
uranium mine was a difficult decision to
make and came after a rigorous and comprehensive
assessment.
"I have not taken
this decision lightly. As with all proposals
examined under national environment law,
this mine was subject to a comprehensive,
scientifically robust and transparent assessment
process," Mr Garrett said.
"Following this
thorough assessment and careful consideration,
I am certain this operation poses no credible
risk to the environment."
The proposal for the
Four Mile mine in South Australia, which
will be located near the existing Beverley
mine, was also subjected to two independent
reviews. Both reviews concluded the mining
operation could go ahead without any significant
lasting impact on the identified environmental
values of the area and that the proposal
represents world best practice in uranium
mining.
In approving the mine,
Minister Garrett has imposed a number of
stringent conditions including a rigorous
monitoring regime. This will demonstrate
the agreed environmental outcomes are being
met by the mine operators.
These strict monitoring
requirements will remain in place well after
the mine ceases its operation in order to
ensure the long term protection of the environment.
Processing waste disposal
from the new mine will occur at the site
of the existing Beverley mine.
"The Government
is committed to world best practice environmental
standards in uranium mining and in protecting
the environment for the benefit of future
generations," Minister Garrett said.
