About the EIS/EES
Marinus Link has prepared a draft Commonwealth Environmental Impact Assessment (EIS) and a Victorian Environment Effects Statement (EES) through a coordinated process, resulting in a combined EIS/EES addressing the requirements of Commonwealth and Victorian legislation.
The EIS/EES and a draft Planning Scheme Assessment (PSA) to facilitate the project within Victoria, are now available for public comment for a period of 30 business days. Written submissions in respect of the EIS/EES and the draft PSA can be made between Friday 31 May and 11:59pm on Friday 12 July 2024 via the Victorian Government’s Engage Victoria website: engage.vic.gov.au/MarinusLink-IAC
More information regarding the environmental assessment of the project is provided at the Environmental Assessment page. Information regarding requirements under Tasmanian legislation in respect of the Heybridge Converter Station and Heybridge Shore Crossing will be available at the Tasmania Environmental Assessments page.
Full details of the public exhibition process can be found on the Public Notice.
The figure below outlines the primary legislation and the relevant jurisdictions that are applicable to this EIS/EES.
Explore the EIS/EES
Learn how the EIS/EES is structured and how to make a submission by viewing our how to navigate the EIS/EES fact sheet.
Summary Report
The Summary Report provides an overview of the project and information in the EIS/EES. We recommend that you read the summary report first.
Additional Contents
- EIS/EES Table of Contents
PDF | Word - Executive Summary
PDF | Word - Glossary & Abbreviations
PDF | Word - References
PDF | Word
Chapters
The chapters present a summary of the assessment outcomes from the technical reports. Volumes 2, 3 and 4 include chapters that provide a comprehensive summary of project’s studies and findings by location. We recommend reading specific chapters if you want to know more about study topics.
Technical reports
The technical reports provide details of the study methodology, existing conditions, impact assessment findings, and proposed mitigation measures. Reports have been prepared by independent technical specialists. We recommend reading the technical reports if you’re wanting to explore the study findings in depth.
Attachments
The attachments provide additional information relating to the EIS/EES, including the draft PSA and the Map Book.
Information updates
Supplementary information to the EIS/EES, including Technical Notes produced for the purposes of the Inquiry under the Environment Effects Act (Vic), can be viewed at information updates.
Community resources
Fact sheets
Fact sheets about the technical study reports can be found below.
- Agriculture and forestry
- Community and social
- Electromagnetic Fields and Electromagnetic Interference
- Fisheries
- Flora and Fauna
- Managing construction impacts
- Protecting cultural heritage
Interactive map
Explore our interactive map to see the project alignment and key information about the proposed design and construction of the project.
How to make a submission
Anyone can make a submission on the Commonwealth and Victoria aspects of the combined EIS/EES and the draft PSA.
Submissions must be made in writing and received by 11:59pm on Friday 12 July 2024.
Submissions can be lodged via the Victorian Government’s Engage Victoria website.
Submissions do not need to identify whether they are directed to the Victorian or Commonwealth process, or both.
If you do not have internet access and are unable to lodge a submission online, contact Planning Panels Victoria (PPV) through the Customer Call Centre on 136 186 (select Option 6) and request a hard copy submission coversheet.
Submissions will be treated as public documents. Unless you tell PPV otherwise, your name and a copy of your submission or any other material you provide will be published on the Engage Victoria website (all other personal information such as address and phone number will be removed first).
A Privacy Collection Statement is available on the Engage Victoria website. The Privacy Collection Statement sets out in plain terms how your submission and personal information will be used, distributed and published.
EIS/EES engagement program
To support the public exhibition of the EIS/EES, Marinus Link held a series of pop-up displays and drop-in sessions across Victoria and Tasmania.
Community drop-in sessions
| Location | Address | Date | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mirboo North | Mirboo North Grainstore – 53-55 Ridgeway Mirboo North, VIC 3871 | Tuesday 4 June | 5 – 7pm |
| Fish Creek | Fish Creek Community Hall – Main Hall – 13 Falls Rd, Fish Creek VIC 3959 | Wednesday 5 June | 1 – 3pm |
| Dumbalk | Dumbalk Community Centre – Super Room – 29-31 Farmers Road, Dumbalk East, VIC 3956 | Thursday 6 June | 5 – 7pm |
| Sandy Point | Sandy Point Community Centre – Main Hall – Church Parade, Sandy Point VIC 3959 | Wednesday 12 June | 5 – 7pm |
| Churchill | Churchill Shopping Centre – Monash Way &, Marina Dr, Churchill VIC 3842 | Thursday 13 June | 10am – 1pm |
| Churchill | Churchill Community Hub – 9/11 Philip Parade, Churchill VIC 3842 | Thursday 13 June | 5 – 7pm |
| Burnie | Future Energy Hub – 1-3 Spring St Burnie TAS 7320 | Thursday 20 June | 10am – 12pm |
| Heybridge | Cuprona Football Clubhouse, Heybridge – 94 River Ave, Heybridge TAS 7316 | Thursday 20 June | 3pm – 5pm |
Landholder drop-in sessions
We also held a number of drop-in sessions for landowners who are directly impacted by the project.
| Location | Address | Date | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mirboo North | Mirboo North Grainstore – 53-55 Ridgeway Mirboo North, VIC 3871 | Tuesday 4 June | 10am – 12pm |
| Dumbalk | Dumbalk Community Centre – Super Room – 29-31 Farmers Road, Dumbalk East, VIC 3956 | Thursday 6 June | 10am – 12pm |
| Sandy Point | Sandy Point Community Centre – Main Hall – Church Parade, Sandy Point VIC 3959 | Wednesday 12 June | 10am – 12pm |
| Meeniyan | Meeniyan Hall – 97 Whitelaw St, Meeniyan VIC 3956 | Friday 14 June | 5 – 7pm |
Webinars
For those who could not attend a drop-in session, we held landholder and community webinars in June.
| Webinar | Date | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Landholder* | Tuesday 18 June | 3-4pm |
| Community | Wednesday 19 June | 6-7pm |
You can view a recording of the community webinar here or below:
Assessment process
Victorian Inquiry and Advisory Committee
The Victorian Minister for Planning will appoint an independent Inquiry and Advisory Committee (IAC) to consider the EIS/EES, public submissions and to conduct a public hearing regarding the EES and draft PSA commencing in the week beginning Monday 16 September 2024. The Hearing is expected to run for up to nine weeks.
The IAC will hold a Directions Hearing on Tuesday 6 August 2024 to consider the arrangements and timetable for the public hearing.
If you want to present to the IAC regarding Victorian matters you will need to make a written submission, and mark on the online submission form that you would like to be heard.
The IAC will review all submissions made on the exhibited EES and draft PSA documentation. It will provide a report at the conclusion of its hearing to the Minister for Planning on the effects of the project on the Victorian environment.
The IAC will be guided by Terms of Reference issued by the Minister for Planning.
The IAC will not be examining impacts to the Tasmanian environment, Commonwealth marine areas, or Matters of National Environmental Significance (whether located in Victoria or elsewhere). That said, there are likely to be interactions, overlaps or combined effects of works in Victoria and works outside of Victoria on the Victorian environment.
Information on the hearing process and timetable will be published as it becomes available at Victorian Government’s Engage Victoria website.
Following public exhibition of the EIS/EES and a subsequent inquiry, the Victorian Minister for Planning will provide an assessment of the environmental effects of the project in Victoria. The Victorian Minister’s assessment will then inform Victorian statutory decision-makers for the project approvals required under Victorian legislation. For more information on the Victorian approvals process visit the environmental assessment page.
Commonwealth
Following receipt of public submissions Marinus Link will finalise the EIS and provide the Commonwealth Minister for the Environment and Water with the EIS, submissions received on the draft EIS, and Marinus Link’s response to those comments. The Commonwealth Minister for the Environment and Water will decide whether the project is approved, approved with conditions, or refused under the EPBC Act.
For more information on the Commonwealth approvals process visit the environmental assessment page.
Hard copy viewing locations
The full EIS/EES and the draft PSA will be made available in hard copy at the following locations during the exhibition period:
- Burnie Future Energy Hub – 1 to 3 Spring Street, Burnie TAS 7320
- State Library of Victoria – 328 Swanston Street, Melbourne VIC 3000
- Marinus Link Traralgon Office – 28-30 Kay Street, Traralgon VIC 3844
Selected information of the EIS/EES and the draft PSA will be made available in hard copy at the following locations during the exhibition period:
- Churchill Community Centre – 9/11 Phillip Parade, Churchill 3842
- Latrobe City Council Offices – 141 Commercial Road, Morwell 3840
- Mirboo North Library – 34 Ridgway, Mirboo North 3871
- Sandy Point Community Centre – Church Parade, Sandy Point 3959
- South Gippsland Shire Offices – 9 Smith Street, Leongatha 3953
- Traralgon Visitor Information Centre – 32 Kay Street, Traralgon 3844
For those who may have accessibility issues, or where electronic options are impracticable, hard copies of some documents may be requested, by phoning Marinus Link on 1300 765 275 or emailing team@marinuslink.com.au.
Please note, the EIS/EES is a large document, and we encourage the use of electronic versions.
Questions
If you have any questions regarding the Marinus Link EIS/EES, the EIS process, the EES process or how to make a submission, please contact:
Questions about the project and about the EIS/EES documentation and draft PSA
Marinus Link
Marinus Link Pty Ltd
2/30 Kay Street, Traralgon, VIC 3844
Phone: 1300 765 275
Email: team@marinuslink.com.au
Questions about the EES Process under the Environment Effects Act
Department Transport and Planning
Impact Assessment Unit
Phone: (03) 8622 7633
Email: environment.assessment@delwp.vic.gov.au
For questions about privacy and making a submission or the Victorian Inquiry and Advisory Committee process
Planning Panels Victoria
Phone: 136 186 (select option 6)
Email: Marinus.IAC@delwp.vic.gov.au
For questions relating to the EIS under the EPBC Act
Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water
Victoria and Tasmania Assessments Sections
Phone: 1800 920 528
Email: EPBC.VicTas@dcceew.gov.au