Environmental and planning approvals are critical to the successful delivery of major transport projects. This webinar will provide an overview of a coordinated approach to achieving complex environmental and planning approvals and explore the interface between approvals and an iterative project design process. Using the Inland Rail Beveridge to Albury (B2A) Project as a case study, the session will demonstrate how environmental and planning approvals were navigated under both the Victorian Environment Effects Act 1978 (EE Act) and the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act).

The B2A Project—spanning a major linear upgrade of rail infrastructure from the Victorian border to the outskirts of Melbourne—required multiple statutory approvals, including an Environment Report, Ministerial Planning Scheme Amendment, Heritage Permits, and Cultural Heritage Management Plans. The process also involved a wide range of specialist studies covering ecology, surface and groundwater, urban design, social impact, sustainability, heritage, and land use planning.

The audience will gain an understanding of approaches to environmental and planning approvals under Victorian Environment Effects Act 1978 (EE Act) and Commonwealth consideration under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) and lessons learnt. Further, participants will gain a deeper understanding of approaches to:

• Coordinated Commonwealth and State environmental approvals
• Environment Effects Statement or Environment Report under EE Act (pros and cons)
• Application of Ministerial Planning Scheme Amendments (MPSA) for projects in multiple LGAs
• Complexities of accommodating ongoing project design changes into approvals
• Ecological and cultural heritage surveys for linear infrastructure

Meet the speakers

Jeff Smith | Market Sector Lead – Environment, Australia/New Zealand, AECOM

Jeff has over 35 years of experience in obtaining environmental and planning approvals for complex infrastructure projects across numerous sectors including oil & gas, transport, energy and telecommunications. His in-depth understanding of statutory settings and requirements for environmental impact assessments has been instrumental in streamlining and completing statutory approvals, multidisciplinary studies, and stakeholder engagement for numerous major infrastructure projects. He has a strong track record in leading major approvals projects under the State Environment Effects Act 1978 and the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 2009 and led the successful approvals process for the Inland Rail Beveridge to Albury (B2A) project. Approvals included an Environment Report, Ministerial Planning Scheme Amendment, Heritage permits, and two Cultural Heritage Management Plans. He led all associated studies, including ecology, surface water, groundwater, urban design, social impact, sustainability, historic heritage, Aboriginal cultural heritage, land use planning, and traffic.

Daniel Haysom | Associate Director Environmental Planning, AECOM

Daniel is an Associate Director of Environmental Planning at AECOM’s Melbourne office, with a strong track record in securing planning and environmental approvals for large-scale transport infrastructure projects. Daniel has over 15 years of experience in major infrastructure approvals within Government (state and local) and the private sector. He managed numerous planning and environmental approvals on behalf of Government and therefore offers an in-depth understanding of the statutory requirements and the timing required to complete necessary approvals.

He brings extensive experience in developing and advising on approvals strategies for government transport projects, ensuring alignment with statutory requirements and the technical inputs needed to secure timely planning and environmental approvals. Notable projects Daniel has contributed to include the Level Crossing Removal Project, North East Link, Inland Rail, and Mernda Rail Extension.

Daniel led the planning and environmental approvals for the Inland Rail Project (Tottenham to Albury). This included providing approval pathway advice and the preparation of the required Environment Report under the Environmental Effects Act 1978, and Planning Scheme Amendment under the Planning & Environment Act 1987.

Chris White | Technical Director, AECOM

Chris has been a consultant ecologist for over 19 years providing expert ecological advice for projects across Australia ranging from large scale renewables energy projects to critical infrastructure developments. He has extensive experience leading ecological assessments and surveys throughout Victoria working closely with several infrastructure projects. He has provided expert environmental advice for a range of major projects across the eastern seaboard and southern Australia from large-scale renewables energy projects to critical transport infrastructure developments. This has demanded an in-depth understanding of the application of both state and national environment policy, and refined skills in stakeholder engagement and client management. He has extensive experience in the design and implementation of ecological survey throughout Australia’s temperate and semi-arid zone environments. Complementing Chris’ environmental impact assessment experience is his expertise and training in the application of Geographic Information Systems to ecological theory and practice.

This event will run off Australian Eastern Daylight Time (AEDT) and will run for 1 hour. This webinar will be recorded and the recording will be made available to all registered attendees in the days after the webinar.

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