Planning and development assessment

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The EPA has responsibilities under the EP Act to ensure that measures are taken to protect, restore and enhance the quality of the environment. The EPA must have regard to, and seek to further, the objects of the EP Act, and have regard to its general environmental duty and relevant Environment Protection Policies.

The EPA’s overarching goal for its interaction with the planning system is to promote the principles of ecologically sustainable development (as defined in the EP Act) by ensuring that the EPA’s views are heard, understood and taken into account at each stage of the planning system to the degree appropriate to the risk of environmental harm.

The EPA is not the authority responsible for making the ultimate planning decision.

Planning strategies and policies

The EPA regularly reviews proposed amendments to development plans by assessing statements of intent (SOIs), development plan amendments (DPAs) and council strategic directions reports (section 30 of the Development Act 1993). The EPA’s advice to councils and the Minister for Planning seeks to ensure that:

• suitable environmental investigations are undertaken prior to confirming whether any proposed rezoning is appropriate
• planning policies are incorporated into DPAs (and ultimately development plans) to ensure that future development does not have adverse environmental impacts
• appropriate environment protection strategies are incorporated into council strategic directions reports to guide future amendments to development plans.

During 2013–14, the EPA increased its efforts to work with councils and DPTI to incorporate planning policies into council development plans that seek to protect the environment (including human health and wellbeing). This resulted in greater consideration of environmental issues during the planning policy process. During the year, the EPA assessed 22 statements of intent, six ministerial development plan amendments, 26 council development plan amendments and eight local council strategic direction reports.

The EPA provided advice on the following significant statements of intent and/or development plan amendments:

• Playford Project: Angle Vale, Virginia and Andrews Farm Ministerial DPA
• Playford Projects: Greater Edinburgh Parks – Ministerial DPA
• Wakefield Regional Council – Bowmans Industrial Zone Expansion DPA
• City of Salisbury Waterloo Corner Road, Burton DPA
• City of Victor Harbor Centres Review SOI
• Light Regional Council Flood Prone Areas DPA
• Kangaroo Island Sustainable Futures – Ministerial DPA.

Structure plans

The EPA contributes to the development of structure plans and regional planning strategies that form part of the South Australian Planning Strategy, established under the Development Act 1993. During the year, the EPA provided advice on the following structure plans and regional planning strategies:

• Kangaroo Island and Emu Bay Structure Plan.

Assessment of major developments and projects

The Minister for Planning refers major developments and projects with potential environmental impacts to the EPA for assessment and advice, regardless of whether an activity contained in Schedule 1 of the EP Act is involved. The EPA coordinates most responses to major development applications on behalf of the Environment and Conservation Portfolio (EPA, DEW and Zero Waste SA). Documents relating to the following major developments or projects were referred to, and responded by, the EPA during 2013–14:

• Nyrstar Port Pirie smelter upgrade: In September 2013, the EPA reviewed and provided a response to the Nyrstar Port Pirie smelter transformation proposal public environment report. In November and December, the EPA assisted DPTI to prepare the state government’s assessment report. A decision to approve the project was made by the Governor on 23 December 2013. In April and May 2014, the EPA reviewed and provided comment to Nyrstar on the adequacy of their construction environment management plan. This was endorsed by the EPA on 6 June 2014.
• Port Bonython bulk export facility: In November 2013, the EPA provided a response to the Port Bonython bulk commodities export facility environmental impact statement. In February 2014, the EPA also reviewed the response document prior to its release by the proponent.
• Buckland Park township: In accordance with the major development approval, granted in 2010, the EPA reviewed the adequacy of the proponent’s stormwater management plan. In September 2013, the EPA also provided advice on an amendment to the original approval for the relocation of the town centre and, in May 2014, the EPA responded to the draft Construction environment management plan.
• Northern Adelaide Waste Management Authority’s Uleybury landfill: In November 2013, the EPA prepared a response to a proposal to construct a new leachate pond.
• Mannum Waters marina: In December 2013, the EPA prepared a response to a proposal to vary the wetland design.
• Kangaroo Island Golf Course development: In May 2014, the EPA prepared a response to the draft guideline document.

Development assessment

The EPA provided advice or direction for 215 development applications in response to referrals made under the Development Act 1993 during 2013–14. Five applications were refused. Some of the more significant applications included:

• the CERES Wind Farm on the Yorke Peninsula, comprising 197 turbines and a highvoltage direct current cable connection to Adelaide across Gulf St Vincent
• expansion of the Defence SA Common User Facility at Osborne for maritime construction activities
• a carbon dioxide (CO₂) recovery plant within the AGL Torrens Island Power Station
• replacement of waste oil recycling facility at Wingfield following a fire
• odour reduction development at an existing foundry in Kilburn
• major expansion of an existing chicken abattoir at Wingfield
• changes in configuration of wastewater treatment lagoons for a large abattoir in Murray Bridge.

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• Planning and development assessment