EPBC Act Part 7-9 decisions published, 02/02/2026 to 08/02/2026

Administered by Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water

Legislation au C2026G00101 In force Gazette

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DEPARTMENT OF CLIMATE CHANGE, ENERGY, THE ENVIRONMENT AND WATER

Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999

EPBC Act Part 7-9 decisions published, 02/02/2026 to 08/02/2026

For further information see the referrals list at https://epbcpublicportal.environment.gov.au/all-referrals/

and type the reference number in the Filter by Referral Number box

actions determined as requiring approval (EPBC Act s.75)

Reference	Title	Controlling Provisions	Date
2025/10373	Urban Resources Pty Ltd / Mining / 59 Godel Road, Nowergup / Western Australia / Sand and Limestone Extraction Project, Nowergup	Listed threatened species and communities (sections 18 & 18A)	29/01/2026
2025/10383	Queensland Electricity Transmission Corporation Limited / Energy Generation and Supply (non-renewable) / 433 Bocks Road, Bungaban QLD 4419 (Lot 41 on SP137907) / Queensland / Bungaban Wind Farm Connection Project	Listed threatened species and communities (sections 18 & 18A)	2/02/2026
2025/10395	Northern Seq Distributor - Retailer Authority / Waste Management (sewerage) / 34 West Main Drive, Warana, Queensland 4575 / Queensland / Kawana Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) Upgrade	Listed threatened species and communities (sections 18 & 18A) Listed migratory species (sections 20 & 20A)	2/02/2026
2025/10349	Department of Transport and Main Roads / Transport - Land / Pacific Motorway / Logan Motorway Loganholme to Shipper Drive Coomera / Queensland / Coomera Connector (Future stages) Loganholme to Coomera	Ramsar wetlands (sections 16 & 17B) Listed threatened species and communities (sections 18 & 18A) Listed migratory species (sections 20 & 20A)	3/02/2026
2025/10379	AE Bess 11 Pty Ltd / Energy Generation and Supply (renewable) / 1337 Wine Country Drive, Rothbury (Lot 182 DP 787820) and Rothbury Substation - 1309 Wine Country Drive, Rothbury NSW 2320 (Lot 4, of Deposited Plan / New South Wales / Sunshine Estate Battery Energy Storage System (BESS)	Listed threatened species and communities (sections 18 & 18A)	3/02/2026
2025/10362	Sumitomo Forestry Australia Pty Ltd / Agriculture and Forestry / 400, 400A & 580 Aitkens Road, Bengworden, Victoria 3875 / Victoria / Softwood pine plantation at Bengworden	Ramsar wetlands (sections 16 & 17B) Listed threatened species and communities (sections 18 & 18A) Listed migratory species (sections 20 & 20A)	4/02/2026
2025/10374	Hotas Holding Pty Limited / Residential Development / 48 Gutt Road, Regency Downs, Queensland (the Site). See Attachment A - Figure 1.1 Project Area. / Queensland / Residential Development Lockyer Valley	Listed threatened species and communities (sections 18 & 18A)	6/02/2026

actions determined as NOT requiring approval (EPBC Act s.75)

Reference	Title	Date
2025/10368	Tonic Group Pty Ltd / Energy Generation and Supply (renewable) / Lot 10 on Plan P018149, Wellesley Road Binningup, WA. / Western Australia / Binningup Solar Facility	29/01/2026
2025/10277*	Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation / Natural Resources Management / 35 Carricks Road Springbrook QLD 4213 / Queensland / Settlement Picnic Area and Purling Brook Causeway - Springbrook National Park	30/01/2026
2025/10369*	Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water - (Office of the Supervising Scientist) / Commonwealth / Kubara (Gubara) Road, Kakadu, Northern Territory, 0822 / Northern Territory / Koongarra Rehabilitation Project	30/01/2026
2025/10386	Vocus Pty Ltd / Telecommunications / Northern Territory waters and Commonwealth waters off Western Australia, Northern Territory and Christmas Island / Commonwealth Marine / Project Wyasa Geophysical Survey	2/02/2026
2025/10378	Melbourne Water Corporation / Waste Management (sewerage) / Western Treatment Plant, Metropolitan Farm Road, Cocoroc Victoria 3030 / Victoria / Sludge receival at WTP 115E and 85W lagoons	4/02/2026
2025/10385	Department of Transport and Main Roads / Transport - Land / Kin Kin Road, chainage 41.78km – 42.7km, Pinbarren in the Noosa Shire. / Queensland / Kin Kin Road, Sallwood Court to Turnbull Road, Strengthening and Pavement Widening Project.	4/02/2026

* Actions which are not controlled actions provided they are undertaken in a particular manner. Further information on provision and manner specified is available from https://epbcpublicportal.environment.gov.au/all-referrals/

Assessment Approach (EPBC Act s.87)

Reference	Title	Assessment Approach	Date
2025/10373	Urban Resources Pty Ltd / Mining / 59 Godel Road, Nowergup / Western Australia / Sand and Limestone Extraction Project, Nowergup	Preliminary Documentation	29/01/2026
2025/10383	Queensland Electricity Transmission Corporation Limited / Energy Generation and Supply (non-renewable) / 433 Bocks Road, Bungaban QLD 4419 (Lot 41 on SP137907) / Queensland / Bungaban Wind Farm Connection Project	Preliminary Documentation	2/02/2026
2025/10395	Northern Seq Distributor - Retailer Authority / Waste Management (sewerage) / 34 West Main Drive, Warana, Queensland 4575 / Queensland / Kawana Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) Upgrade	Preliminary Documentation	2/02/2026
2025/10349	Department of Transport and Main Roads / Transport - Land / Pacific Motorway / Logan Motorway Loganholme to Shipper Drive Coomera / Queensland / Coomera Connector (Future stages) Loganholme to Coomera	Public Environment Report	3/02/2026
2025/10362	Sumitomo Forestry Australia Pty Ltd / Agriculture and Forestry / 400, 400A & 580 Aitkens Road, Bengworden, Victoria 3875 / Victoria / Softwood pine plantation at Bengworden	Preliminary Documentation	4/02/2026
2025/10374	Hotas Holding Pty Limited / Residential Development / 48 Gutt Road, Regency Downs, Queensland (the Site). See Attachment A - Figure 1.1 Project Area. / Queensland / Residential Development Lockyer Valley	Preliminary Documentation	6/02/2026

DECISION ON APPROVAL (EPBC Act s.133)

Reference	Title	Approval Decision	Date
2024/10045	Medallion Metals Limited / Mining / Intersection of Maydon Rd and Hopetoun-Ravensthorpe Rd, Ravensthorpe, WA, 6346 / Western Australia / Ravensthorpe Gold Project	Approved with conditions	30/01/2026
2024/09897	ARDG Deans Quarry Pty ltd / Mining / Corner of Rotherwood Road and Tangaratta Road, Cassilis NSW 2329 / New South Wales / Liverpool Range Quarry Project	Approved with conditions	2/02/2026

variation of conditions of approval (EPBC Act s.143)

Reference	Title	Date
2007/3343	Northbank Enterprise Hub Pty Ltd / Commercial Development / Tomago / New South Wales / Tomago Road Industrial Subdivision	5/12/2025

NOTICE OF EXTENSION OF TIME (EPBC Act s.130(4))

Reference	Title	Extended to	Date
2020/8720	Development Victoria / Residential Development / Lot CU and CT of Plan PS511683, bounded by the Western Highway and Western Ring Road / Victoria / Cairnlea Section G Mixed Use Development	18/02/2026	3/02/2026
2023/09643	Tarong West Project Co Pty Ltd / Energy Generation and Supply (renewable) / Jumma Road, Ironpot, QLD (-26.652948N, 151.533146E) / Queensland / Tarong West Wind Farm	19/02/2026	5/02/2026
2022/09255	Hancock Prospecting Pty Ltd / Mining / Mulga Downs Station / Western Australia / Mulga Downs Iron Ore Mine	19/02/2026	6/02/2026

Some public notifications on the Internet and in the Gazette relating to the processing of referrals for approval under Chapter 4 of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 may occasionally be missed in processing by the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water or may not meet timeframes for notification. The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water has implemented systems and ongoing quality assurance procedures to minimise any risk of missing a notification within the required timeframe. Where a missed notification is identified the practice will be to notify these even though the timeframe for notification has lapsed. This will ensure that the history of notifications for each referral is available to the public. The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water regrets any inconvenience that may be caused by a missed notification. Please note that late notifications have not affected subsequent processing of referrals or assessments and they do not affect decisions made.

Overview

The Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cth), enacted by the Parliament of Australia, addresses the need for a comprehensive framework to protect and manage the nation's environmental heritage. This legislation aims to provide for the protection of the environment, particularly matters of national environmental significance, by regulating actions that may have a significant impact on the environment. The Act establishes a national system for the protection and management of the environment, including processes for assessing the potential environmental impacts of proposed actions and making decisions on whether to approve or reject those actions. The policy objective of the Act is to promote sustainable development by ensuring that environmental considerations are integrated into decision-making processes at all levels of government. The Act empowers the Minister for the Environment to make decisions on whether to approve or reject proposed actions that may significantly impact matters of national environmental significance, such as listed threatened species and ecological communities, listed migratory species, World Heritage properties, Ramsar wetlands, and the marine environment. The Act also provides for the establishment of referral mechanisms, where actions proposed by other agencies or authorities must be referred to the Minister for assessment under the Act. This ensures a coordinated and consistent approach to environmental protection and biodiversity conservation across different sectors and jurisdictions. The Act is administered by the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, which is responsible for implementing the provisions of the Act and ensuring compliance with its requirements.

Scope and Application

The Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) applies to any person or entity that intends to undertake an action that may have a significant impact on matters of national environmental significance, as designated under the Act. This includes actions such as mining, energy generation and supply, waste management, transport, agriculture, forestry, and residential development, among others. The Act covers actions both within Australia's jurisdiction, including its territories, and those that have a direct or indirect impact on Australian environmental matters. Specific exclusions and exemptions from the Act's coverage are outlined within the legislation, and the Act's application can be extended or restricted through subordinate instruments, which provide further detail on the types of actions and their potential impacts. The Act's jurisdictional reach ensures comprehensive protection of environmental assets of national and global importance.

Key Provisions

The Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) governs the approval process for actions that may significantly impact matters of national environmental significance. Under the EPBC Act, Section 75 mandates that certain actions require approval from the Minister, while Section 133 allows for the approval of actions with conditions. For instance, Urban Resources Pty Ltd's Sand and Limestone Extraction Project in Nowergup, Western Australia, was determined to require approval due to its potential impact on listed threatened species and communities, as outlined in Sections 18 and 18A. Similarly, the Kawana Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) Upgrade by Northern Seq Distributor - Retailer Authority also required approval due to its impact on listed threatened species and communities (Sections 18 and 18A) and listed migratory species (Sections 20 and 20A). Entities and parties governed by the EPBC Act must comply with specific obligations and requirements. For example, project proponents must submit detailed preliminary documentation or public environment reports, as applicable, to the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water. This includes information about potential environmental impacts and proposed mitigation measures. In the case of the Coomera Connector (Future stages) Loganholme to Coomera by the Department of Transport and Main Roads, a Public Environment Report was required under Section 87 of the EPBC Act. The approval process also involves consultation with relevant stakeholders and the consideration of public comments. Violations of the EPBC Act may result in various civil and criminal consequences. For instance, failure to comply with the Act's provisions or approved conditions of approval may lead to enforcement actions, fines, or even imprisonment. The Act does not specify maximum penalties for breaches; however, penalties can vary depending on the severity and nature of the offence. It is essential for entities and parties to adhere to the requirements set out in the EPBC Act to avoid potential legal repercussions. In summary, the EPBC Act plays a crucial role in regulating actions that may significantly impact the environment. The Act requires approval for certain actions, imposes obligations on project proponents, and provides for enforcement measures in cases of non-compliance. By ensuring compliance with the Act's provisions, entities and parties can contribute to the protection and preservation of Australia's unique environment.

Area of Law: Environmental Law
Instrument: Gazette Notice
Concepts: Definitions & Interpretation; Licensing & Registration; Enforcement Powers

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Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation at 26 August 2026. For the latest information on Australian Government law please go to https://www.legislation.gov.au.

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