Basslink - Assessment Process

Stage 3

Contents

Draft Impact Assessment Statement
Public Exhibition of the Draft Integrated Impact Assessment Statement
Public Hearing of the Draft Integrated Impact Assessment Statement
Draft Panel Report
Public Exhibition of the Draft Panel Report
Public Hearing of the Draft Panel Report

Draft Impact Assessment Statement

The Draft Integrated Impact Assessment Statement (IIAS) has been prepared by Basslink Pty Ltd in accordance with the Final Scope Guidelines published by the Joint Advisory Panel (established to carry out the assessment of the Basslink proposal) in October 2000.

The Draft Integrated Impact Assessment Statement (IIAS) has been submitted to the Joint Advisory Panel for assessment.

The IIAS addresses all issues identified in the Final Scope Guidelines. The IIAS includes:

A summary;
A description of the objectives of the proposal;
A description of the proposal and alternatives (a preferred alternative need not be nominated);
An outline of the various approvals required for the project to proceed, including an outline of public consultation undertaken;
A description of the existing environment where it is relevant to the assessment of impacts;
Predictions of significant environmental, economic and social impacts of the proposal and alternatives (including the no-change option) and their consequences, direct and indirect, short and long term and cumulative, with an estimation of the amount of uncertainty involved;
Where a preferred alternative is nominated, an outline of the reasons for the choice of the proposal, demonstrating that it is preferable to the no-change option;
A program for minimising, ameliorating, managing and monitoring impacts; and a commitment to implement the program;
As far as practicable, responses to issues raised during public and agency review;
The names of study team members and their roles in the preparation of the IIAS.

Public Exhibition of the Draft Integrated Impact Assessment Statement

Public exhibition of Draft IIAS and submissions received

The Draft IIAS was placed on public exhibition from 2 July 2001 to 31 August 2001. Advertisements were placed in State and national newspapers notifying the public that the Draft IIAS was available to be viewed at various locations, including the internet, and copies were available for purchase from the proponent. The 59 technical reports and studies prepared in the course of preparing the Draft IIAS were also made available to the public. The Panel received 536 submissions from government and non government organisations, community interest groups and individuals. These submissions were each recorded and acknowledged.

Public Hearing of the Draft Integrated Impact Assessment Statement

Panel hearing in Tasmania and Victoria

The Panel invited all submitters to present their submission at a hearing. A public hearing has been held in Tasmania and Victoria to better inform the Panel about the issues raised in submissions on the Draft IIAS. The hearing was held at George Town and Hobart in Tasmania and Traralgon and Yarram in Victoria. A total of 139 presentations were made during the public hearing. Documents tabled at the hearing were numbered and available for public inspection.

Draft Panel Report

The Joint Advisory Panel has prepared a Draft Panel Report on the Basslink proposal. The Draft Panel Report contains the Panel’s preliminary findings on whether the project should be approved and, if so on what conditions, including draft recommendations, draft conditions and permits and approvals.

Public Exhibition of the Draft Panel Report

Public comment period commences 12 March and closes 16 April 2002

The Joint Advisory Panel prepared a Draft Panel Report on the Basslink proposal.

Interested persons and organisations were invited to comment in writing on the Draft Panel Report, in particular on the draft recommendations, draft conditions, permits and approvals.

A copy of the Draft Panel Report was mailed to all people who made a presentation at the Panel hearing on the Basslink Draft Integrated Impact Assessment Statement.

Public Hearing of the Draft Panel Report

The Panel may hold further public hearings in both Victoria and Tasmania.

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