21 November 2007
SUGARLOAF PIPELINE EES REFERRAL LODGED
A referral for a decision on the need for an assessment under the Environment Effects Act 1978 (EES Referral) for the Sugarloaf Pipeline has been lodged with the Minister for Planning, Project Director Rod Clifford said today.
Mr Clifford said the completion of the referral documentation followed months of detailed planning and survey work along the pipeline corridors and consultation with local communities across the project study area.
"The referral documents will now be considered by the Minister for Planning, who will determine if there is a need for a full Environment Effects Statement under the Act.
"The referral follows an intensive program of field work and research and is supported by a range of detailed environmental, geological, social and cultural heritage assessments conducted over recent months."
"These assessments are detailed in the Preliminary Project Impact Assessment report and supporting documentation and further ongoing project investigations will continue."
The EES Referral is publicly available via the Department of Planning and Community Development (DPCD) website, with supporting specialists’ reports available to the public on request. Arrangements are also in place to brief the Murrinindindi and Yarra Ranges Shire Councils and community representatives.
"This major project is a key plank of the Government’s Our Water Our Future: Next Stage plan to boost water supplies across the State.
"It will bring up to 75 billion litres of water to Melbourne from 2010. This is Melbourne's one-third share of the water saved by the Food Bowl Modernisation Project. This project is expected to save 225 billion litres of water now lost through seepage, evaporation and system inefficiencies. The water savings will be shared equally between the environment, irrigators and Melbourne."
In exchange for the capped allocation of 75 billion litres of water per annum, the Victorian Government is contributing $600 million toward the first stage of the Food Bowl Modernisation Project and Melbourne Water is contributing $300 million. The remaining $100 million will be paid by Goulburn-Murray Water.
Mr Clifford said Melbourne Water and the Sugarloaf Pipeline team looked forward to continuing to work with the local community as plans were finalised over the coming months.
"Further information sessions are planned for next week on the project throughout the project corridor, with local communities invited to come along and meet with project team engineers and designers.
"These sessions are informal, drop-in events that will be open for three hours, providing members of the community with an opportunity to meet with key project team members and talk about any questions or concerns they may have.
"The feedback we have received both through these individual discussions, as well as previous information sessions and those currently underway and planned, will be vital to ensuring the best possible outcome for this project."
DPCD website: www.dpcd.vic.gov.au
| Date | Time | Menu |
|---|---|---|
| 26 November | 4pm – 7pm | Kinglake Kinglake Neighbourhood House |
| 27 November | 4pm – 7pm | CJ Dennis Hall Toolangi |
| 28 November | 4pm – 7pm | Glenburn Glenburn Community Hall – Melba Highway |
| 29 November | 4pm – 7pm | Yea Council Chambers The Semi Circle - Yea |
| 30 November | 4pm – 7pm | Memorial Hall Melba Highway – Yarra Glen |