EPBC Act Part 7-9 decisions published, 7/07/2025 to 13/07/2025

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

Legislation au C2025G00451 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, 7/07/2025 to 13/07/2025

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
2025/10204	Trustees of the Roman Catholic Church for the Diocese of Wagga Wagga / Residential Development / 65 Williams Road, Thurgoona NSW 2640 / New South Wales / Williams Park Estate - Housing Subdivision	Listed threatened species and communities (sections 18 & 18A)	7/07/2025
2025/10163	Pilbara Energy (Generation) Pty Ltd / Energy Generation and Supply (renewable) / 1.7 km east/southeast from great northern highway 91 km south of Port Hedland, 6 km east/southeast of Wodgina mine. / Western Australia / Turner River Solar Hub	Listed threatened species and communities (sections 18 & 18A)	7/07/2025
2025/10188	NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water / Transport - Water / Lagoon Road, Lord Howe Island NSW 2898 / New South Wales / Lord Howe Island Critical Infrastructure Project	World Heritage (sections 12 & 15A) National Heritage (sections 15B & 15C) Listed threatened species and communities (sections 18 & 18A) Listed migratory species (sections 20 & 20A)	7/07/2025
2025/10206	Sunwater Limited / Water Management and Use / 1671 Paradise Dam Road, Coringa, Queensland 4621 / Queensland / Concrete Batch Plant and Trial Embankment Area for the Paradise Dam Improvement Project	Listed threatened species and communities (sections 18 & 18A)	8/07/2025
2025/10194	Pilbara Energy (Generation) Pty Ltd / Energy Generation and Supply (renewable) / 110km SSE from Port Hedland. It extends from the iron bridge mine eastward for 100 km where crosses the marble Bar road and extends a further 20km ENE / Western Australia / East Pilbara Generation Hub	Listed threatened species and communities (sections 18 & 18A) Listed migratory species (sections 20 & 20A)	9/07/2025

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

Reference	Title	Date
2025/10189	Hookey Creek I Project Pty Ltd as trustee for the Hookey Creek I Project Trust / Energy Generation and Supply (renewable) / Lot 216 LX509 - 1370 Wide Bay Hwy LOWER WONGA and Lot 2 SP295954 - 27 Hayes Rd LOWER WONGA / Queensland / Hookey Creek Solar Farm and Battery Energy Storage System (BESS)	4/07/2025
2025/10178	Esso Australia Resources Pty Ltd / Exploration (mineral, oil and gas - non-marine) / Barry Beach Marine Terminal, 550 Barry Road, Agnes, VIC 3962 / Victoria / Decommissioning Campaign #1 - Onshore Reception Centre early works	8/07/2025
2024/10095	Water Corporation / Water Management and Use / Corner of Indian Ocean Drive and Jurien Road, Western Australia. / Western Australia / Jurien Bay Borefield Expansion Bore 29/01	9/07/2025

Assessment Approach (EPBC Act s.87)

Reference	Title	Assessment Approach	Date
2025/10204	Trustees of the Roman Catholic Church for the Diocese of Wagga Wagga / Residential Development / 65 Williams Road, Thurgoona NSW 2640 / New South Wales / Williams Park Estate - Housing Subdivision	Preliminary Documentation	7/07/2025
2025/10163	Pilbara Energy (Generation) Pty Ltd / Energy Generation and Supply (renewable) / 1.7 km east/southeast from great northern highway 91 km south of Port Hedland, 6 km east/southeast of Wodgina mine. / Western Australia / Turner River Solar Hub	Preliminary Documentation	7/07/2025
2025/10206	Sunwater Limited / Water Management and Use / 1671 Paradise Dam Road, Coringa, Queensland 4621 / Queensland / Concrete Batch Plant and Trial Embankment Area for the Paradise Dam Improvement Project	Preliminary Documentation	8/07/2025
2025/10194	Pilbara Energy (Generation) Pty Ltd / Energy Generation and Supply (renewable) / 110km SSE from Port Hedland. It extends from the iron bridge mine eastward for 100 km where crosses the marble Bar road and extends a further 20km ENE / Western Australia / East Pilbara Generation Hub	Preliminary Documentation	9/07/2025

DECISION ON APPROVAL (EPBC Act s.133)

Reference	Title	Approval Decision	Date
2022/9164	Karuah East Quarry Pty Limited / Mining / Lot 13 DP 1024564 and Lot 12 DP 1024564, Karuah / New South Wales / Karuah East Quarry - Modification 10	Approved with conditions	2/07/2025
2022/09424	Department of State Growth / Transport - Land / Midland Highway – north of West Street, Campbell Town to Esk Main Road, Conara / Tasmania / Midland Highway Upgrade - Campbell Town North Portion B	Approved with conditions	7/07/2025
2022/09392	Koolan Iron Ore Pty Ltd / Mining / The Proposed Action is located on Koolan Island, Western Australia in the Shire of Derby-West Kimberley. / Western Australia / Koolan Island Operations	Approved with conditions	7/07/2025

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

Reference	Title	Date
2011/6095	Davenport City Council / Water Management and Use / 197 to 229 Sheffield Road / Tasmania / Piping of an open drain and translocation of Burrowing Crayfish	6/07/2025
2015/7600	United Collieries Pty Ltd / Mining / 134 Jerrys Plains Road, Warkworth / New South Wales / United and Wambo open cut coal mine project, Hunter Valley, NSW	7/07/2025
2021/9030	Edify Energy Pty Ltd / Energy Generation and Supply (renewable) / 460 Dodsons Road, Smoky Creek / Queensland / Smoky Creek Solar Farm	9/07/2025

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

Reference	Title	Extended to	Date
2022/09292	Ulan Coal Mines Pty Limited / Mining / 4505 Ulan Road, Ulan NSW / New South Wales / Ulan Coal Modification 6 - Underground Mining Extension	1/08/2025	3/07/2025
2024/09860	Lendlease (Queen Victoria Markets) Head Developer Pty Limited / Commercial Development / 65-159 Victoria St (QVM) and southern development site at Franklin, Peel and Queen Sts, Melbourne / Victoria / Queen Victoria Market Southern Development project	11/08/2025	10/07/2025
2024/09979	GPT Platform Pty Limited / Commercial Development / 179 Tilburn Road, Deer Park / Victoria / Commercial and Industrial Development, Deer Park, Victoria (Stage 1 and 2)	11/08/2025	10/07/2025

lapsed proposals (EPBC Act s.155)

Reference	Title	Date
2009/5014	Griffin Coal Mining Company Pty Ltd / Mining / 18km S-E of Collie, South of Coalfields Road / Western Australia / Extension of coal mine, abutting Muja Mine, Collie, WA	7/07/2025
2005/2203	Kerry Walker / Residential Development / Christmas Island / Christmas Island / Rocky Point Dwelling Redevelopment	7/07/2025

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 (EPBC Act) was enacted by the Australian Parliament to address the need for a comprehensive framework that integrates the protection of the environment with sustainable development. This legislation seeks to manage the impacts of proposed activities that may have significant environmental consequences, particularly those that affect matters of national environmental significance such as listed threatened species, communities and migratory species, World Heritage properties, and National Heritage places. The policy objective of the EPBC Act is to ensure that the environmental impacts of proposed activities are properly assessed and managed, thereby contributing to the conservation of Australia's unique biodiversity and heritage while allowing for economic development in a sustainable manner. The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water is responsible for administering the Act, including overseeing the assessment and approval process for actions that may significantly affect the environment.

Scope and Application

The Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) applies to a broad range of entities and activities across Australia, with a focus on protecting the environment, including matters of national environmental significance. The Act applies to individuals, companies, and other legal entities undertaking activities that may impact on the environment, particularly those that could affect listed threatened species and communities, World Heritage properties, National Heritage places, and migratory species. The geographic scope of the Act is national, as it is a Commonwealth Act, meaning it applies across all states and territories in Australia. The Act may extend or restrict its application through subordinate instruments, which can provide additional detail on specific matters or processes. The Act includes certain exclusions and exemptions, such as activities covered by other specific legislation, or those that are considered to have minimal environmental impact. Decisions under the Act, such as approvals or variations of conditions of approval, are made in accordance with specific sections of the Act and are subject to public notification. While the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water strives to meet notification timeframes, there may be instances where notifications are missed or delayed, though these are rectified as soon as identified to maintain public transparency.

Key Provisions

The Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) provides a comprehensive framework for protecting the environment and managing biodiversity. Key sections such as sections 75, 87, 133, 143, 130(4), and 155 outline the procedures for assessing, approving, varying, extending, and lapsing proposals that may impact the environment. Under section 75, certain actions require approval, such as residential developments that may impact listed threatened species and communities. Section 87 dictates the assessment approach, often beginning with preliminary documentation. Once assessed, decisions on approval are made under section 133, which can result in the project being approved with conditions. If circumstances change post-approval, section 143 allows for the variation of the conditions of approval. In some cases, extensions of time are granted under section 130(4) to allow additional time for necessary actions. If a proposal is not actioned within the specified timeframe, it may lapse under section 155. The EPBC Act imposes several obligations on the parties or entities it governs. These obligations include providing detailed documentation and assessments of potential environmental impacts, adhering to timelines for submissions and reviews, and complying with any conditions imposed as part of the approval process. For instance, developers must submit thorough environmental impact statements and mitigation plans to address any adverse effects on threatened species and communities. Additionally, entities must ensure that their projects do not result in the destruction of World Heritage or National Heritage sites and must take measures to protect listed migratory species. Breaches of the EPBC Act can lead to significant penalties and consequences. Under section 474, individuals and corporations found guilty of offences can face substantial fines. For example, unauthorised actions that harm listed threatened species can incur fines of up to $1.1 million for individuals and $5.5 million for corporations. Additionally, under section 516, civil penalties can be imposed for breaches of approval conditions, with fines escalating based on the severity and repeat nature of the breach. Criminal sanctions may also apply, leading to imprisonment for serious offences that result in significant environmental harm. These measures are intended to enforce compliance and deter non-compliance with the Act’s provisions.

Area of Law: Environmental Law
Instrument: Gazette Notice
Concepts: Definitions & Interpretation; Listed threatened species and communities; World Heritage; National Heritage; Listed migratory species; Compliance Obligations

Interactions

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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