RFI - Ecological Assessment Report

Ecological Assessment Report
3 - 7 Serenity Close, Noosa Heads



3 MATTERS OF ENVIRONMENTAL
       SIGNIFICANCE
This section of the report provides an overview of relevant statutory environmental
assessment, planning and approval requirements relating to:

      ● matters of national environmental significance (MNES),
      ● matters of State environmental significance (MSES),
      ● matters of local environmental significance (MLES).



3.1     COMMONWEALTH (MNES)


Environmental regulation at the federal government level is driven by the EPBC Act. The
EPBC Act deals mainly with matters of national environmental significance (protected
matters) including:

      ● World Heritage places;
      ● National Heritage places;
      ● RAMSAR wetlands (Wetlands of international importance);
      ● Nationally threatened species and ecological communities;
      ● Migratory species;
      ● Commonwealth marine areas;
      ● Nuclear actions; and,
      ● Water resources 3.

Where development or action has, will have, or is likely to have a significant impact on
MNES, the development must be referred to the Federal Environment Minister prior to
commencing the action. The Minister will then decide within 20 business days whether
assessment is required under the EPBC Act. When making a decision on whether a
proposed development requires assessment, the Minister must consider all relevant
information and act in a manner consistent with natural justice and procedural fairness
obligations.

An EPBC Act referral associated with the approved development was made on the 19
April 2013. On the 4 June 2013 it was determined that the approved development was not
a controlled action i.e. EPBC Act approval not required. Therefore, impacts on MNES are
not discussed in this report.




3 Water resources are a MNES in relation to coal seam gas development and large coal mining development.




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