Strategic assessments
A guide to undertaking strategic assessments is now available to assist prospective parties wanting to undertake strategic assessments.
What is a strategic assessment?
Under section 146 of the EPBC Act, the Australian Government Environment Minister may agree to assess the impacts of actions under a policy, plan or program including but not limited to:
- regional-scale development plans and policies
- large-scale industrial development and associated infrastructure
- fire, vegetation/resource or pest management policies, plans or programs
- water extraction/use policies
- infrastructure plans and policies
- industry sector policies
Within this context a strategic assessment normally applies to multiple natured projects which would otherwise be assessed on a case-by-case basis under Part 8 of the EPBC Act.
Specific strategic assessments underway
Strategic assessments (including Terms of Reference) under section 146 of the EPBC Act:
- Great Barrier Reef (Queensland)
- Perth and Peel region (Western Australia)
- Browse Basin LNG Precinct (West Kimberley)
- Melbourne's urban growth boundary (Victoria)
- Molonglo Valley Plan (Canberra)
- Heathcote Ridge, West Menai (New South Wales)
- Western Sydney growth centres (New South Wales)
- Fire management policy (South Australia)
- Midlands Water Scheme (Tasmania)
- Mount Peter Master Planned Area (Queensland)
Why undertake a strategic assessment?
Specific advantages of undertaking a strategic assessment include:
- early consideration of matters of national environmental significance (NES) in planning processes
- greater certainty to the local communities and developers over future development
- reduced administrative burden for proponents taking actions consistent with a policy, plan or program approved under a strategic assessment
- capacity to achieve significant environmental outcomes including addressing cumulative impacts at the landscape level
- flexible timeframes commencing early in the planning process.
Who can the Department conduct a strategic assessment with?
A strategic assessment is a collaborative assessment process between the Australian Government and an appropriate proponent. Proponents can include:
- state governments
- local governments
- urban development industry
- mining and resource companies.
When is it appropriate?
A strategic assessment may be the most appropriate form of assessment for:
- high growth areas with a large number of projects requiring assessment by the Australian Government Environment Minister
- projects involving multiple stakeholders or complex, large-scale actions.
There may be other opportunities where a strategic assessment is appropriate. For example, where:
- projects are characterised by multiple values
- a proactive and consistent approach to natural resource management across jurisdictions is considered effective
- there is scope for developing regional capability
- environmental protection is best integrated with higher level planning.
The EPBC Act (sections 147 to 154) also includes particular provisions for the strategic assessment of Commonwealth managed fisheries.
What are the key features of a strategic assessment?
Guided by a set of Terms of Reference, a strategic assessment can take into account:
- how the policy, plan or program gives effect to relevant national, state and local plans, policies or programs and their inherent environmental protection objectives and/or actions
- how, if appropriate, state and local plans, policies or programs can be modified/updated to achieve their objectives in the area being assessed
- matters of national environmental significance, biodiversity conservation, and ecologically sustainable development objectives
- how uncertainty is addressed and environmental risk managed
- adaptive implementation and environmental monitoring.
What is the process for undertaking a strategic assessment?
The key steps are contained in the Strategic Assessment under the EPBC Act brochure. Details of the process can be found in A guide to undertaking strategic assessments.
A summary of a proposed strategic assessment can be used as a basis for initial discussions with the federal environment department to determine whether a strategic assessment is the best approach for a draft or existing policy, plan or program (that is, before a formal request for a strategic assessment is made).
- Summary of proposed strategic assessments form - excludes Commonwealth managed fisheries.
Frequently asked questions
Contact us
If you are considering a strategic assessment, contact Strategic Approvals East (Qld, NSW, Vic, Tas) or Strategic Approvals West (WA, SA & territories) in the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities on (02) 6274 1111 early in your planning and design phase.
See also
- Conservation agreements
- Marine bioregional planning
- Strategic assessment notices
- Great Barrier Reef (Queensland)
- Perth and Peel region (Western Australia)
- Browse Basin LNG Precinct (West Kimberley)
- Melbourne's urban growth boundary (Victoria)
- Molonglo Valley Plan (Canberra)
- Heathcote Ridge, West Menai (New South Wales)
- Western Sydney growth centres (New South Wales)
- Fire management policy (South Australia)
- Midlands Water Scheme (Tasmania)
- Mount Peter Master Planned Area (Queensland)