Environment
We are identifying the potential cumulative impacts of the Precinct on environmental values and developing ways to protect them (avoid/mitigate/offset) through a strategic environmental assessment process.
Precinct planning began in 2018, with the view to increasing the Territory’s economic benefits gained through our existing strengths. The environmental safeguards and the protection of Darwin Harbour were given high priority in the conception of the development. This involves an overarching environmental performance framework and extensive research including:
- 136 environmental studies such as:
- air quality assessment
- water quality assessment
- marine ecology study
- human health impact assessment
- noise, traffic and visual amenity studies
- flora and fauna conservation strategy
- social impact assessment
- archaeological study
- economic impact assessment.
- 235 concept designs such as:
- jetty engineering design
- module off-loading facility design
- marine navigation and traffic study
- shipping channel dredging studies
- shared infrastructure designs such as roads, water and electricity supply, product corridors, drainage, wastewater treatment, land layouts, governance framework models.
The project was referred to the independent NT Environment Protection Authority, as required under the Northern Territory Environment Protection Act 2019, and a Strategic Environmental Assessment Agreement has been signed with the Australian Government under the national Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.
Feedback into the process
The impact assessment focuses on parts of the natural and human environments that are important to people and environmental sustainability. These parts are identified as being ‘valued components’ by all stakeholders (including the public, Aboriginal groups, scientists, technical experts, governments and industry).
We have heard what is valuable from community and we are doing field studies to identify what is in the Strategic Assessment Area or what might occur there in the future.
There will be opportunity to provide further feedback as the project progresses through the stages of the strategic environmental assessment:
| Refer the project (Complete) | The ‘Referral’ document outlines baseline information and potential impacts. The regulators (NT EPA and DCCEEW) decided the precinct should be assessed as a strategic project (a group of proposed actions). |
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| Set Agreement and Terms of Reference (Complete) |
The Strategic Assessment Agreement is a high-level document which describes the process for the development and assessment of the MASDP Program.
The Terms of Reference defines what information is required to build the strategic assessment. These were developed following a period of public consultation and feedback. There are separate Terms of Reference for the NT and Commonwealth. |
| Prepare draft EIS and Program (Current) |
We are undertaking a full assessment of potential impacts on relevant physical, biological, economic, cultural and social aspects and scope of development.
We are developing commitments for sustainable development. |
| Submit and seek public comments and feedback (Future) | We will submit the draft EIS and Program to the NT and Commonwealth regulators, and these will be published for public comment and feedback. |
| Supplementary Assessment (Future) |
Further assessments to respond to comments are
undertaken at this stage. |
| Submit and seek public comments and feedback (Future) | Supplementary EIS will be submitted to the NT EPA and published for public comment and feedback. |
Interested industries (proponents) who want to locate themselves in the MASDP, will develop and submit their approval notice application to the NT EPA. Approval notice applications will be published for public comment and feedback.
During the development
Measures to avoid environmental impacts will be built into the MASDP Program. Management and monitoring programs will be prepared throughout the planning phase for the staged construction and ongoing operation of Precinct.