Information for Assessment on Preliminary Documentation under section 95A of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999
Referral 2011/5895 – CSIRO/Commonwealth/Silo Road, Black Mountain/ACT/Archival recording and demolition of two Commonwealth Heritage Listed buildings
In 2011, the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) submitted a Referral of Proposed Action entitled ‘CSIRO/Heritage Buildings/Black Mountain/ACT/Undertake archival recording and interpretation project of Buildings 123 and 132 prior to demolition’ to the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities. In response to the Department’s request for additional information, CSIRO provided an updated Report for the Department’s consideration in May 2013.
CSIRO, in accordance with Section 95A (3) of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, invited comments on the proposed action from individuals, organisations or groups with interests in the property during the period from 4 September 2013 to 3 October 2013. No public comments were received and finalised documents are now published and on display for information purposes only. The documents can also be made available upon request after the display period finishes.
The specific details of the Referred action are as follows:
Action Identification Number: EPBC 2011/5895
Action Descriptive Title: Archival recording and demolition of two Commonwealth Heritage Listed buildings (Blowfly Insectary Numbers 1 and 2)
Location: Silo Road, CSIRO Black Mountain, Acton, ACT
Party intending to take action: CSIRO - Business and Infrastructure Services
Matter protected by a provision
of Part 3 of the Act: National Heritage Places: Section 15B
How to access finalised documents:
The display period for information purposes only is open from 14 October 2013 to 25 October2013.
During this period you can access copies of the Referral Action, Consultant Reports and Black Mountain aerial photo at the following locations:
- Come to the CSIRO Corporate Centre located at 30 Limestone Avenue, Campbell, ACT between the hours of 10.00 a.m. and 4.00 p.m. Monday – Friday; or
- Visit our website at http://www.csiro.au/heritage/BlackMtnACT; or
- Visit the Civic Library located at Civic Square, London Circuit, Canberra City, ACT between the hours of 10 a.m. and 8.00 p.m. on Monday or 10.00 a.m. and 5.30 p.m. Tuesday – Saturday; or
- Visit the National Capital Authority at Treasury Building, King Edward Terrace, Parkes, ACT between the hours of 8.30 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday - Friday.
Document accessibility issues may be submitted via post or e-mail to the following:
Mr Steve Edwards
Executive Manager, Property Standards
CSIRO Business and Infrastructure Services
PO Box 225, Dickson ACT 2602
Phone: 61 2 6276 6453
Facsimile: 61 2 6276 6029
E-mail: Steven.Edwards@csiro.au
Finalised documentation shall be publically available until 5.00 p.m. AEST 25 October 2013, and upon request from CSIRO beyond this time.
Overview
The Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) was enacted to provide for the protection of the environment, particularly with respect to matters of national environmental significance, including World Heritage properties, wetlands of international significance, listed threatened species and ecological communities, and heritage places. The Act aims to strike a balance between economic development and environmental protection by establishing a framework for the assessment and approval of actions that may have significant environmental impacts. The EPBC Act is administered by the Australian Government and includes provisions for public participation and transparency in decision-making processes. In the case of the archival recording and demolition of two Commonwealth Heritage Listed buildings on CSIRO's Black Mountain property, the Act facilitates a structured approach to assess the potential environmental impacts of the proposed action and to involve relevant stakeholders in the decision-making process.
Scope and Application
The Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 applies to the proposed archival recording and subsequent demolition of two Commonwealth Heritage Listed buildings at CSIRO Black Mountain in Acton, ACT. The Act governs actions that may have a significant impact on matters of national environmental significance, which in this case pertains to the Commonwealth Heritage Places identified as Blowfly Insectary Numbers 1 and 2. The referral, numbered EPBC 2011/5895, was submitted by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) to the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities. This referral is subject to section 95A of the Act, which mandates that CSIRO must invite and consider comments from interested parties during a specified period. The Act ensures that such heritage sites receive appropriate consideration before any demolition activities proceed. The Act's jurisdictional reach is national, applying across all states and territories in Australia, and it extends its application through subordinate instruments, which may further detail the assessment and approval processes for actions impacting heritage sites. The public display period for the finalised documentation runs from 14 October 2013 to 25 October 2013, after which the documents remain available upon request from CSIRO.
Key Provisions
The main operative sections of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) in relation to this referral include section 95A(3), which requires the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) to invite comments on the proposed action from interested individuals, organisations, or groups. Section 15B of Part 3 of the Act governs the protection of the Commonwealth Heritage listed buildings that are the subject of the referral. The referral action, which involves the archival recording and subsequent demolition of two Commonwealth Heritage Listed buildings on CSIRO's Black Mountain property, is detailed in the documents provided by CSIRO to the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities.
The obligations and requirements imposed by the EPBC Act on CSIRO include providing detailed information about the proposed action, inviting public comments, and displaying the finalised documents for public access. CSIRO must ensure that the archival recording process is thorough and that all relevant historical data is preserved before the demolition occurs. The Act also requires CSIRO to coordinate with other government bodies and heritage organisations to manage the impact of the proposed action on the heritage buildings. Furthermore, CSIRO must make the finalised documents accessible to the public during a specified period and provide alternative means for those who may have difficulty accessing the information in person.
The EPBC Act outlines potential offences, penalties, and consequences for breaches related to the proposed action. While the referral document does not detail specific offences or penalties, breaches of the Act can lead to civil and criminal consequences. For example, failure to comply with the Act's requirements can result in legal action, fines, or other sanctions imposed by relevant authorities. The maximum penalties for breaches can vary depending on the nature and severity of the offence. In general, the Act aims to enforce strict compliance to protect the nation's environmental and heritage assets, ensuring that actions such as the demolition of heritage buildings are conducted responsibly and transparently.