Environmental Impact Assessment
Experience
- We are advising National Grid International Ltd on all environmental aspects of the $500 million Basslink electricity interconnector between Victoria and Tasmania. In particular, we are providing legal, political and strategic advice on Federal, Victorian and Tasmanian environmental impact assessment processes and other environmental approvals and consents, including the transitional arrangement necessary when the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 came into effect. We instructed counsel at the Joint Advisory Panel hearings in Tasmania and Victoria.
- We advised Falconbridge on the environmental aspects of its acquisition of a joint venture company to develop a nickel-mining project in Indonesia. In this project, we advised Falconbridge on Indonesian environmental impact assessment processes and social impact assessment issues.
- We advised Nava Networks and Fujitsu's environmental consultants in relation to environmental impact assessment for the Nava-1 Project. The Nava-1 Project is a super hi-bandwidth submarine telecommunications cable between Singapore, Jakarta, Perth, Melbourne and Sydney.
- We acted as project counsel for InterGen Australia Pty Ltd's development of a greenfields open cut coalmine (3.4 million tonnes per annum), a 840 MW coal-fired power station, a 330 Kilovolt transmission system and a 100 km wastewater pipeline from Toowoomba to Millmerran. At a development cost of $1.2 billion, it is the second largest private investment ever made in Queensland. We facilitated an environmental impact assessment, including reviewing and advising on the impact assessment study required by the State Government.
- We advised and represented Transmission Pipelines Australia on the environmental impact assessment and EPA works approval panel hearings for the western underground gas storage project in South-West Victoria. This project involved sensitive land use planning, pollution and flora and fauna issues, including representation before the EES panel.
- We acted for the Roads and Traffic Authority of New South Wales in relation to an environmental impact assessment and litigation for the $800 million M5 Freeway Project in Sydney.
- We advised TransEnergie (Australia) Pty Ltd and Hydro Quebec on the federal and State environmental assessment processes in relation to the $150 million Murraylink electricity interconnector between South Australia and Victoria.
- We advised and acted for VicRoads on the environmental assessment and panel hearing processes for the Hume Highway diversion project at Craigieburn, Victoria. This matter raised sensitive and complex national estate, flora and fauna, transport engineering and political issues.
- We advised Chase Manhattan Bank on the environmental aspects of its refinancing of Yallourn Energy Pty Ltd. In particular, we advised on the environmental assessment and approval processes for the Morwell River Diversion Project, with an emphasis on the implications of the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.