BULLI SEAM OPERATIONS SECTION 7 PLANNING FRAMEWORK and PROJECT JUSTIFICATION Bulli Seam Operations – Environmental Assessment
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BULLI SEAM OPERATIONS SECTION 7 PLANNING FRAMEWORK AND PROJECT JUSTIFICATION Bulli Seam Operations – Environmental Assessment TABLE OF CONTENTS 7 PLANNING FRAMEWORK AND PROJECT 7.8 PROJECT JUSTIFICATION 7-46 JUSTIFICATION 7-1 7.8.1 Consistency with the Findings and Recommendations of the 7.1 MAJOR PROJECTS 7-1 Southern Coalfield Panel 7.1.1 Application of Other Provisions Report 7-46 of the Environmental Planning 7.8.2 Consideration of Potential and Assessment Act, 1979 7-2 Environmental Impacts, 7.1.2 Approvals and Legislation that Mitigation Measures and do not Apply to Approved Environmental Management 7-46 Part 3A Projects 7-2 7.8.3 Consideration of Potential 7.1.3 Approvals and Legislation that Socio-Economic Benefits 7-46 must be Applied Consistently for Part 3A Projects 7-2 7.2 ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING INSTRUMENTS 7-3 LIST OF TABLES 7.2.1 State Environmental Planning Policies 7-3 Table 7-1 Summary of Project Environmental Impact 7.2.2 Illawarra Regional Reduction Alternatives Environmental Plan No 1 7-9 Table 7-2 Summary of Project Research, Offset and 7.2.3 Greater Metropolitan Regional Compensatory Measures Environmental Plan No 2— Georges River Catchment 7-13 7.2.4 Drinking Water Catchments Regional Environmental Plan LIST OF FIGURES No. 1 7-17 7.2.5 Sydney Regional Environmental Figure 7-1 Relevant Local Government Plan No 20 - Hawkesbury Environmental Planning Instruments -Nepean River (No 2 - 1997) 7-18 7.2.6 Local Environmental Plans 7-24 7.2.7 Section 94 Contribution Plans 7-24 7.2.8 Subregional Planning 7-24 7.3 OTHER APPLICABLE STATUTORY APPROVALS 7-26 7.3.1 NSW Approvals 7-26 7.3.2 Commonwealth Approvals 7-30 7.4 EPBC – ASSESSMENT OF MATTERS OF NATIONAL SIGNIFICANCE 7-31 7.5 DHARAWAL STATE CONSERVATION AREA 7-31 7.6 ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED 7-33 7.6.1 Mining Method 7-33 7.6.2 Longwall Width 7-33 7.6.3 Environmental Impact Reduction Alternatives 7-34 7.6.4 Coal Transport 7-35 7.6.5 Coal Wash Production 7-37 7.6.6 Coal Wash Disposal 7-37 7.6.7 Pit Top Locations/Endeavour Project 7-38 7.6.8 Surface Goaf Gas Drainage 7-38 7.7 ECOLOGICALLY SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT CONSIDERATIONS 7-39 7.7.1 Consideration of the Consistency of the Project with the Objects of the EP&A Act 7-45 7-i Bulli Seam Operations – Environmental Assessment 7 PLANNING FRAMEWORK AND 7.1 MAJOR PROJECTS PROJECT JUSTIFICATION Part 3A of the EP&A Act provides an approval This section outlines the statutory requirements process for projects deemed to be Major Projects. relevant to the assessment of the Project and its justification (i.e. the need for the Project on Section 75B(1) of the EP&A Act defines projects to economic, social and environmental grounds when which Part 3A applies: considered against the objects of the EP&A Act). This Part applies to the carrying out of development that is declared under this section to The Project is largely located within the existing be a project to which this Part applies: mining tenements CCL 724, CCL 767, CCL 381 and CL 388 (Figure 1-2). ICHPL would lodge MLAs with (a) by a State environmental planning policy, or the DPI-MR as required for Project mining (b) by order of the Minister published in the extensions that are outside the existing mining Gazette (including by an order that amends tenements (MLAs 1 to 3) (Figure 1-2). such a policy). … The Appin Mine and West Cliff Colliery operate Schedule 1 of the Major Projects SEPP describes under a number of statutory approvals, permits and development that is declared to be a project to licences granted by various departments of the which Part 3A of the EP&A Act applies. The Project NSW Government. was considered to be a project to which Part 3A of the EP&A Act applies under Schedule 1, Group 2 Key existing Appin Mine and West Cliff Colliery (Mining, petroleum production, extractive industries licences include EPL 758 for Appin East, EPL 398 and related industries) clause 5, subclause (1)(a) for Appin West and EPL 2504 for West Cliff issued and (1)(c) of the Major Projects SEPP: by the DECC. Key existing approvals include 5 Mining Part 3A approvals granted by the Minister (or delegate) for specific surface infrastructure (1) Development for the purpose of mining that: developments (e.g. West Cliff Washery Reliability (a) is coal … mining, or Improvement Project – Section 2.4.3), approvals …, or under section 138 of the Coal Mines Regulation Act, (c) has a capital investment value of more 1982 and recent SMP approvals including the than $30 million or employs 100 or following: more people. • Longwalls 701 to 704 within Area 7 approved On 16 August 2008, the Director-General of the by the DPI-MR on 1 November 2006. DoP, under delegation from the Minister, formed the opinion that the Project is of a kind that meets the • Longwall 409 within Appin Area 4 approved by description in the Major Projects SEPP (set out the DPI–MR on 13 November 2007. above). Pursuant to clause 6(1) of the Major • Longwalls 34 to 36 within West Cliff Area 5 Projects SEPP, the Project was declared to be a approved by the DPI-MR on 13 May 2009. project to which Part 3A of the EP&A Act applies. In accordance with section 75D(1) of the EP&A Act, Other existing approvals include water extraction the Minister is the approval authority for the Project. licences granted by the DWE and mining and occupational health and safety related approvals granted by the DPI and WorkCover NSW. In addition, supplementary approvals are progressively obtained from the SCA and DECC for surface activities within the Metropolitan Special Area, Woronora Special Area, O’Hares Creek Special Area and the Dharawal State Conservation Area in accordance with the requirements of the conditions of existing mining tenements. The Project will be assessed in accordance with the framework established by the EP&A Act and the EP&A Regulation. 7-1 Bulli Seam Operations – Environmental Assessment 7.1.1 Application of Other Provisions of the 7.1.2 Approvals and Legislation that do not Environmental Planning and Apply to Approved Part 3A Projects Assessment Act, 1979 Sections 75U(1) and (2) of the EP&A Act outline the Section 75R of the EP&A Act outlines the authorisations that are not required for a Project applicability of other provisions of the EP&A Act in approved under Part 3A. These authorisations are the assessment and approval of a Project under those ordinarily required under the following Part 3A and provides that: legislative provisions: • Parts 4 and 5 of the EP&A Act do not, except • Part 3 of the Coastal Protection Act, 1979; as provided by Part 3A, apply to a project Sections 201, 205 and 219 of the Fisheries approved under Part 3A, including the • Management Act, 1994; declaration of a project as a project to which Part 3A applies, and any approval or other • Division 8 of Part 6, Part 4 and section 139 of requirement under Part 3A for the Project. the Heritage Act, 1977; • Part 3 of the EP&A Act and State • Section 87 and 90 of the National Parks and Environmental Planning Policy (SEPP) apply to Wildlife Act, 1974; the declaration that a project is the type of project to which Part 3A applies and the • Section 12 of the Native Vegetation Act, 2003; carrying out of a project to which Part 3A • Part 3A of the Rivers and Foreshores applies. Improvement Act, 1948; • Non-SEPP Environmental Planning • Section 100B of the Rural Fires Act, 1997; and Instruments (EPIs) (e.g. Local Environmental Plans and Regional Environmental Plans) do • Section 89, 90 and 91 of the Water not apply to a project approved under Part 3A. Management Act, 2000. • Notwithstanding the above, under Section 75J(3), the provisions of any EPI that 7.1.3 Approvals and Legislation that must would ordinarily apply to the Project if it were be Applied Consistently for Part 3A not to be assessed under Part 3A, may be Projects taken into account by the Minister in deciding whether or not to approve the carrying out of Section 75V(1) of the EP&A Act outlines the the Project. authorisations that cannot be refused if they are necessary for the carrying out of a project approved • Further, clause 8N(1) of the EP&A Regulation under Part 3A and those authorisations must be provides that a project to which Part 3A applies substantially consistent with the Part 3A approval. (other than a critical infrastructure project) may These authorisations include those required under not be given project approval if that project, or the following legislative provisions: any part of that project, is located within an environmentally sensitive area of State • Section 15 of the Mine Subsidence significance or a sensitive coastal location and Compensation Act, 1961; would be prohibited by an EPI if Part 3A of the EP&A Act did not apply. • Mining Lease under the Mining Act, 1992; • Similarly, clause 8O(1) of the EP&A Regulation • production lease under the Petroleum provides that a project to which Part 3A applies (Onshore) Act, 1991; (other than a critical infrastructure project) may • environment protection licence under not be given project approval if that project, or Chapter 3 of the PoEO Act; any part of that project, is not the subject of an authorisation or requirement under section • Section 138 of the Roads Act, 1993; and 75M of the EP&A Act to apply for approval of a • a licence under the Pipelines Act, 1967.