Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

The Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities has provided the following answer to the honourable senator's question:

(1) The Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities (the department) is currently assessing the proposed Orange pipeline project under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act). This assessment includes consideration of the EPBC Act listed threatened Trout Cod.

(2) The proposal is being assessed under the EPBC Act through an accredited assessment of the NSW assessment process (Part 3A of the NSW Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979). The department recently conducted an adequacy review of the draft NSW Environmental Assessment document. The Environmental Assessment is on public exhibition until Monday 15 October 2012.

(3) Yes. As part of its consideration of the proposal, the department has been in contact with the Orange City Council in their role as the proponent for the project, and with the NSW Department of Planning and Infrastructure, who is the state consent authority.

(4) The Australian Government will only consider whether it is appropriate to contribute funding for alternative water supply options for Orange if construction of the Macquarie to Orange pipeline is not approved.