In Western Australia, the environmental approval process is referred to as Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). It is designed to ensure that identified environmental impacts of projects can be avoided, minimised, or mitigated through adaptive management and offsets.

As required under the Environmental Protection Act 1986, the Roe Highway Extension proposal will be considered by the Western Australian Environmental Protection Authority (EPA). As the project will potentially have a significant impact on matters of national environmental significance, it is also subject to approval from Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities (DSEWPaC - formerly DEWHA), as required by the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. The environmental assessment under both acts will occur concurrently under the bilateral agreement between WA and the Commonwealth using the State EIA process, however the respective state and commonwealth ministers will issue their own, independent decisions on the project.

Three key pieces of approval documentation are required as part of the approval process:

Referrals

The level of assessment for the Roe Highway Extension proposal is determined by State and Commonwealth authorities in response to the Referrals. Main Roads self referred the project to the EPA and to DSEWPaC. These documents can be viewed here.

Environmental Scoping Document

The purpose of the Environmental Scoping Document (ESD) was to resolve with the Western Australian Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) the scope of the environmental assessment work to be undertaken.

The document describes key environmental issues and the type of information that needs to be collected to better understand those issues or systems.  This information will enable South Metro Connect to undertake an assessment of impacts of the extension of Roe Highway (Environmental Impact Assessment, see below).

This document essentially forms the basis of the Environmental Impact Assessment document (see below) and included:

• A summary description of the proposal, including reasons and explanations for the project
• A description of the regional surroundings and environment
• A description of potential environmental impacts, their consequences and management responses
• Proposed environmental studies and investigation
• Key environmental and social issues
• Applicable legislation
• Community engagement program
• Project timeline

The ESD was developed with input from a Scoping Document Focus Group, comprising representatives of key government agencies and interest groups. The draft ESD, prepared by the South Metro Connect team, was submitted for approval to the EPA on 14 January 2010 and approved on 15 June 2010.

The approved Environmental Scoping Document can be viewed here.

Environmental Impact Assessment - Public Environmental Review (PER)

In November 2009, the EPA set the level of assessment for the proposal at Public Environmental Review (PER), with an extended 12-week public comment period. The purpose of the PER document is to demonstrate to the EPA why the proposal should be judged as environmentally acceptable.

Following EPA approval of the Environmental Scoping Document on 15 June 2010, preparation of the Environmental Impact Assessment report (EIA) and associated activities began. In May 2011, our team submitted the draft PER to the EPA for its consideration.

The EPA released the PER for a 12-week public comment period, open from 20 June to 12 September 2011. The public comment period provided an opportunity for those interested to comment on the preferred concept design and provide feedback on the project. During this period, South Metro Connect held a final community information day to present the preferred concept design, the PER and enable discussion with the project team. A final decision will be made by the relevant state and commonwealth ministers.

Click here to download an electronic copy of the PER

Prior EPA Advice

In February 2003 the EPA issued Bulletin 1088; Environmental values associated with the alignment of Roe Highway (Stage 8). This Bulletin was prepared to provide ‘environmental advice on the key environmental values associated with the alignment of Roe Highway Stage 8 and likely impacts arising if construction was undertaken. …and does not constitute a formal assessment or approval by the EPA.’