The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has decided a detailed assessment is required to determine the extent of the Western Green Energy Hub proposal’s impacts on the environment.
Today the independent EPA published its decision to assess the large-scale wind and solar proposal at the level of public environmental review.
EPA Chair Darren Walsh said the environmental impact assessment would include a 10-week public consultation.
“The scale of this proposal and the potential impacts to marine and terrestrial fauna and the Nullarbor Plains limestone karst system, means a lengthier than usual public review period is warranted,” Mr Walsh said.
The WGEH Pty Ltd proposal is for the construction and operation of 3000 wind turbines, 35 solar farms and a renewable hydrogen facility, about 440km east of Kalgoorlie and to the immediate north-west of Eucla.
The proponent’s referral states that about 95 per cent of the proposed 22,690km² development envelope will remain undisturbed. And when fully operational the proponent expects a workforce, family, and service-driven population to exceed 8000. Offshore elements comprise a marine offloading facility, desalination plant, brine pipeline and an ammonia export pipeline in State Waters.
Earlier this month the EPA advertised the referral for a seven-day public comment period. The referral stage allows the EPA to consider whether or not a proposal requires formal environmental assessment, and if so at what level.
Mr Walsh said the EPA had now considered the 282 public submissions received and other advice obtained and had decided the key environmental factors were complex and required assessment under Part IV of the Environmental Protection Act 1986.
The next step in the assessment will be for the EPA to prepare an environmental scoping document to define the form, content, timing and procedure of the environmental review.
EPA Media Contact: Jenni.Storey@dwer.wa.gov.au; 0434 734 997
Printer-friendly version