The next stages of the Ginninderry housing estate development in Western Canberra have been given the go-ahead in the absence of an Environment Impact Statement (EIS).
Minister for Planning and Land Management, Mick Gentleman said the project had been exempted from providing an EIS as it had already been subject to rigorous environmental assessments.
“The project has also received environmental approval under the Commonwealth’s Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999,” Mr Gentleman said.
“The EIS exemption process has the same level of scrutiny as an EIS and the application was open for extended public consultation.”
He said an EIS exemption was not an approval for development and could only be granted where the application addressed all potential environmental impacts.
“Ginninderry has been able to demonstrate this by providing recent environmental studies, and proposing mitigation measures and conditions that reduce the environmental impact of the development,” Mr Gentleman said.
“The application addressed the impact on species and ecological communities, native vegetation clearing, nature reserves, heritage and contaminated land.”
He said he was pleased that one of the main measures was the establishment of the West Belconnen conservation corridor along the Murrumbidgee River which would protect important environmental values.
“The EIS exemption will allow the joint venture, between the ACT Government and Riverview Projects, to progress estate development plans and future development applications for the next stages of project,” the Minister said.
“The exemption was granted in accordance with the Planning and Development Act 2007.”
