Lee Rhiannon (NSW, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

asked the Minister representing the Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities, upon notice, on 31 August 2012:

(1) Is the Minister aware that Federal funding towards the Orange pipeline project in Central West New South Wales will have a direct impact on the population of threatened fish species recognised to be of national environmental significance.

(2) Can details be provided of any investigation or review the departmental Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Unit has conducted into the environmental assessment report prepared for the project, including: (a) the outcome of any investigation or review process; and (b) how the project is being tracked by the department.

(3) Has the department had any contact with the project proponents or the consent authorities; if so, what was the nature of that contact.

(4) Will the Government undertake to maintain the allocated $20 million funding for a broader regional solution to Orange City water supply security that does not include the pipeline project

Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Link to 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.