One Stop Shop Assessment Bilateral Agreement

 

Western Australia (WA) has signed a new assessment bilateral agreement with the Commonwealth under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) as a step to delivering a one-stop-shop for environmental approvals.

The agreement was signed on 3 October 2014 and started to operate on 1 January 2015.

The previous assessment bilateral agreement between WA and the Commonwealth ceased on 31 December 2014 and existing assessments transitioned to the new agreement as of 1 January.

The agreement allows WA to assess proposals on behalf of the Commonwealth. The Agreement while help avoid duplication of assessments at the State and Commonwealth level. The Commonwealth will still make the approval decision under the EPBC Act relying on the WA assessment report.

Information on environmental impact assessment under the Assessment Bilateral Agreement is available here: http://www.epa.wa.gov.au/EIA/