Environment Effects Statement
About the Environment Effects Statement process
ENGIE Hazelwood is progressing a comprehensive and transparent planning and consultation process for the Hazelwood Rehabilitation Project Environment Effects Statement (EES).
The EES process is managed by the Victorian Department of Transport and Planning (DTP) on behalf of the Minister for Planning. DTP published Scoping Requirements for the EES in October 2023, which have guided the development of the EES.
Central to the success of the Hazelwood Rehabilitation Project is minimising potential impacts and protecting important natural systems.
The environmental assessments for the EES have now been completed, and ENGIE Hazelwood is in the process of finalising the EES documents. The EES is expected to be placed on exhibition for review and public submission in the coming weeks.
During public exhibition, you will be able to view the chapters and technical reports covering all of the environmental assessments included in the EES.
View the project’s EES introduction video and fact sheet to learn more about the EES process.
Public exhibition of the EES
The Environment Effects Statement (EES) and draft Planning Scheme Amendment (PSA) are expected to be placed on public exhibition in the coming weeks for community review and submissions.
Once exhibition begins, you will be able to view the EES:
On this website
At Latrobe Valley GovHub in Morwell
At TAFE Gippsland Traralgon Campus
At Sale Library
At State Library Victoria
You can also email [email protected] to request a posted copy of the EES Summary Report or the complete EES on a USB memory stick. Materials will be mailed to arrive as close as possible to the start of the exhibition period.
The timing of the exhibition period will be determined by the Victorian Department of Transport and Planning (DTP). Public exhibition will occur for a period of 30 business days.
We will provide updates on the exhibition period through this website and local media channels.
During the exhibition period, community members and interested stakeholders will have the opportunity to make a written submissions on the EES and the draft PSA. The submission process is independently managed by Planning Panels Victoria (PPV).
How to make a submission
Submissions must be made in writing and submitted before the close of exhibition period via the Engage Victoria website.
A link to the Engage Victoria submission form will be published on this website when the exhibition period opens.
If you do not have internet access and are unable to lodge a submission online, contact PPV through the Customer Call Centre on 136 186 (select option 6) and request a hardcopy submission coversheet.
What has been assessed?
The matters to be assessed in the EES are set out in the Scoping Requirements prepared by the Department of Transport and Planning and include:
Water resources and environmental values
Landform, safety and stability
Amenity, socio-economic and land use
Cultural Heritage
Biodiversity and ecological value
The environmental assessments also set out various mitigation, monitoring and contingency measures to manage the potential environmental impacts associated with the project.
Steps in the Environment Effects Statement process
Frequently asked questions
An EES is a well-established process under the Environment Effects Act 1978, that provides a comprehensive framework for assessing projects with potential for significant environmental effects.
The ministerial guidelines for assessment of environmental effects define the environment as the physical, biological, heritage, cultural, social, health, safety and economic aspects of human surroundings. All of these are considered in the EES.
The guidelines state the objective of the assessment process is to provide for the transparent, integrated and timely assessment of project capable of having a significant effect on the environment.
An EES usually contains:
a description of the proposed development and alternatives considered
an outline of community and stakeholder consultation undertaken during investigations and issues raised
a description of the existing environment that may be affected
predictions of potential environmental effects of the proposal
proposed measures to avoid, minimise or manage adverse environmental effects
a proposed program for monitoring and managing environmental effects during Project implementation.
A range of methods will be used to promote the EES exhibition:
Advertising in the Latrobe Valley Express, Gippsland Times, the Herald Sun and The Australian
Information on this website
Information on the Victorian Government’s centralised engagement platform engage.vic.gov.au
Drop in community sessions in Morwell
Updates to our project mailing list – to ensure you are notified of the EES Exhibition as soon as it goes live, we recommend signing up to our project mailing list. This is the best way to receive direct, current information about the project and the EES.
There are several ways you will be able to view the EES:
On this website
Printed copies will be available to view at Latrobe Valley GovHub in Morwell, Gippsland TAFE Traralgon campus, Sale Library and State Library Victoria
Printed summary reports will be available for free at these venues
You can also request a posted copy of the EES Summary Report or the complete EES on a USB memory stick by emailing [email protected]. Materials will be mailed to arrive as close as possible to the start of the exhibition period
During the public exhibition period, anyone can make a written submission on the EES and the draft PSA.
Submissions must be made in writing and submitted before the close of exhibition period via the Engage Victoria website at engage.vic.gov.au.
If you do not have internet access and are unable to lodge a submission online, contact PPV through the Customer Call Centre on 136 186 (select option 6) and request a hardcopy submission coversheet.
The submission collection process is independently managed by PPV and any enquiries regarding the management of submissions should be directed to PPV.
The timing of the exhibition period will be determined by the Victorian Department of Transport and Planning (DTP). Public exhibition will occur for a period of 30 business days.
Submissions received during the EES exhibition period will be considered by an independent Inquiry and Advisory Committee (IAC) appointed by the Minister for Planning.
Submissions will be treated as public documents and will be published on the Engage Victoria website.
After the exhibition period, the IAC will conduct a public hearing, where people and organisations who’ve made submissions will have the opportunity to speak in support of their written submission.
The EES will assess the potential environmental effects associated with the project, including the pit lake landform as the proposed final rehabilitation option for the Hazelwood site.
Once the public exhibition of the EES and subsequent Inquiry and Advisory Committee (IAC) process has concluded, the Minister for Planning will provide a final assessment of the environmental effects of the project. The assessment will consider all relevant information including the EES documents, public submissions made to the IAC, ENGIE Hazelwood’s response and an inquiry report prepared by the IAC.
This information and the Minister’s assessment – as to whether the project would have acceptable environmental effects – must be considered by other government agencies who make statutory approvals decisions in relation to specific aspects of the Project.
These agencies will decide whether to approve the project under Victorian law.
The Minister’s assessment will also inform the Commonwealth Minister for the Environment in deciding whether to approve the project under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cth).