Queensland Curtis LNG. A BG Group - QGC Alliance

Environmental assessment

Trees in forest

The Queensland Curtis LNG Project, declared “significant” by the Queensland Government in July 2008, is being assessed for its environmental and social impact under Queensland and Australian Government legislation.

Studies are being done to ensure that the proposed development is environmentally and socially acceptable.

This work will contribute to an environmental impact statement, sometimes referred to as an EIS, that will explain the project in detail and outline its potential environmental, social and economic impacts.

Importantly, the statement will also describe how the project intends to avoid or manage impacts and maximise benefits for local communities in the project area, and for Queensland.

Government approvals

When completed, the environmental impact statement should provide all the information that the Queensland and Australian Governments require to make an informed decision about the merits of the project and its impacts.

The project will also require approval by the Australian Government under its key environmental legislation, the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.

Under the Act, approval from the Federal Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts is needed for any action likely to have an impact on matters of national environmental significance.

Referrals submitted

To determine whether approval is required, a “referral” is submitted to the Environment Minister for consideration.

Queensland Curtis LNG lodged its referrals, including descriptions of the project and its components, in August 2008.

These are available at www.environment.gov.au/epbc/

In September 2008, the Environment Minister determined that the nine aspects of the development referred by the Queensland Curtis LNG Project were “controlled actions”, requiring assessment and approval by the minister before they can proceed.

These actions relate to gas field development, the pipeline network, onshore facilities, shipping activities and other infrastructure such as roads and dredging.