This submission was prepared by Environmental Justice Australia and Environment Victoria in relation to the Belsar-Yungera and Hattah Lakes North Floodplain Restoration Projects Environment Effects Statement (EES).
The purpose of this submission is to highlight Environment Victoria’s concerns in relation to the EES and the Project, translated into recommendations to the Victorian Murray Floodplain Restoration Project (VMFRP) Standing Inquiry and Advisory Committee in relation to the Project.
The key submissions include:
- The Project must be assessed in its broader factual and legislative context
- The Committee must consider and make findings in relation to the cumulative, facilitated and indirect impacts of the Project as part of the VMFRP and the Sustainable Diversion Limit Adjustment Mechanism (SDLAM), including findings in relation to the likelihood of the SDLAM and VMFRP delivering the outcomes they predict for the environment.
- The Committee must require the proponent to address the significant deficiencies in scientific analysis identified by notable experts in this submission process.
- In relation to environmental water and climate change, the Committee should find that: a. to approve the Project, further information is required to enable appropriate assessment of the impacts of climate change and availability of environmental water on the environmental effects of the Project; and b. the number of assumptions made in relation to the availability of environmental water and climate change mean the Project is unable to
be approved in its current form as it has failed to adequately address the Scoping Requirements for the Hattah Lakes North and BelsarYungera Floodplain Restoration Projects Environment Effects Statement
- The Committee must seek to understand from Traditional Owners whether VMFRP Objective 2 has been met and, if it considers that it has not been met, to understand from the proponent how it considers that the Project can proceed to meet its objectives in the circumstances.
Download the full submission here >>
Header image: Barmah National Park, credit Erik Peterson