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Ecologically Sustainable Development and Environmental Performance

Defence Referrals Under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999

Under the Act, Defence is obliged to consult with the Department of Environment and Heritage to ensure that any of its activities that will have, or are likely to have, a significant impact on the environment, only proceed with the approval of the Minister for the Environment and Heritage. During 2003-04, Defence formally referred the following eight actions:

Table 7.15 Defence Referrals in 2003-04
Referral Title Ref No. Date Decision/
Determination		 Status of Referred Action
Urban and commercial new development, Ermington, New South Wales
Residential subdivision works, Spurway Street, Ermington.		 2003/1130 25 July 2003 Non-controlled action Project proceeded. Subject to Defence environmental policy and best practice management.
Land transport, Queenscliff, Victoria
Remedial works to the Swan Island Bridge. 		2003/1129 25 July 2003 Non-controlled action Project proceeded. Subject to Defence environmental policy and best practice management.
Department of Defence
Tourism, recreation and conservation management, Beecroft Peninsula, New South Wales
Beecroft Weapons Range visitors centre.		 2004/1322 5 January 2004 Invitation for public comment Project scope under review.
Department of Defence, Holsworthy, New South Wales
Holsworthy Redevelopment project program of works.		 2004/1391 1 March 2004 Non-controlled action Project proceeding. Subject to Defence environmental policy and best practice management.
Department of Defence, Bathurst Island, Northern Territory
Construction and operation of radar infrastructure.		 2004/1406 5 March 2004 Non-controlled action Project proceeding. Subject to Defence environmental policy and best practice management.
Department of Defence, Mount Bundey, Northern Territory
Construction and operation of urban operations training facility.		 2004/1458 8 April 2004 Controlled action Environmental impact assessment required.
Department of Defence, Darwin, Northern Territory
Operation of Tiger helicopters at Robertson Barracks.		 2004/1459 8 April 2004 Controlled action Environmental impact assessment required.
Department of Defence Townsville Field Training Area, Queensland
Establishment of cleared drop zone for parachute exercises.		 2004/1589 16 June 2004 Controlled action Preliminary information to be submitted.

More information on Defence referrals to the Department of the Environment and Heritage can be found at: http://www.deh.gov.au/cgi-bin/epbc/epbc_ap.pl.

Defence continues to use environmental clearance certificates as mechanisms to impose environmental mitigation measures where activities are unlikely to have a significant impact on the environment, but some degree of environmental management is still required.

Defence environmental managers issue the certificates for a wide range of environmental activities, such as military exercises, building and range construction and fire management. In addition, obligations are written into standard operating procedures for routine activities and environmental management plans developed for training areas and bases.

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