Version No. 027
Environment Effects Act 1978
No. 9135 of 1978
Version incorporating amendments as at
14 November 2025
TABLE OF PROVISIONS
Section Page
1Short title and commencement
2Definitions
3Works to which this Act applies
4Environment Effects Statement
5The Minister may call for supplementary statement
6The Minister may call for a statement
8Advice of Minister as to whether statement required
8ANo decision to be made on works until advice given
8BAdvice of Minister
8CDecisions not to be made and works not to proceed until assessment considered
8DTimeframes for decisions on works changed
8EStatement may be required if conditions not complied with
8FOnly certain planning decisions affected
8GSecretary to give advice and assistance
9Minister may cause inquiries to be held
10Guidelines
10ARegulations
11Transitional provision—Environment Effects (Amendment) Act 2005
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Endnotes
1 General information
2 Table of Amendments
3 Explanatory details
Version No. 027
Environment Effects Act 1978
No. 9135 of 1978
Version incorporating amendments as at
14 November 2025
An Act to require the Environmental Effects of certain Works to be assessed, and for other purposes.
BE IT ENACTED by the Queen's Most Excellent Majesty by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Council and the Legislative Assembly of Victoria in this present Parliament assembled and by the authority of the same as follows (that is to say):
1Short title and commencement
(1)This Act may be cited as the Environment Effects Act 1978.
(2)This Act shall come into operation on a day to be fixed by proclamation of the Governor in Council published in the Government Gazette.
2Definitions
(1)In this Act unless inconsistent with the context or subject-matter—
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proponent means the person or body who is carrying out or proposing to carry out any works;
public works means works undertaken or proposed to be undertaken (whether commenced before, on or after the commencement of the Environment Effects (Amendment) Act 1994), by or on behalf of the Crown or for public statutory bodies but does not include works undertaken by or on behalf of municipal councils;
relevant Minister means in respect of any works or proposed works, the Minister concerned with the undertaking of those works;
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Secretary means the body corporate established by Part 2 of the Conservation, Forests and Lands Act 1987;
statement means Environment Effects Statement;
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3Works to which this Act applies
(1)This Act applies to works that are declared to be public works for the purposes of this Act by Order of the Minister published in the Government Gazette.
(2)The Minister must not make an Order in respect of works under subsection (1) unless the Minister is satisfied that the works could reasonably be considered to have or to be capable of having a significant effect on the environment.
(3)The Minister must specify in an Order under subsection (1) the procedures and requirements under the guidelines that are to apply to…