Environmental Significance Opinion

An Environmental Significance Opinion (ESO) is a form of environmental impact assessment (EIA) that confirms that a development proposal is not likely to have a significant adverse environment or heritage impact.

Depending on the type of development, an ESO may be given by the:

• Conservator of Flora and Fauna
• ACT Heritage Council or
• The Territory Planning Authority.

You can seek an ESO for the following items.

ESO process

Once submitted, your ESO application will go through a 'completeness check'.

After your documents pass the completeness check, you'll need to pay the relevant fees. Once you pay the fees, the ESO is lodged and can be assessed.

When lodged, the ESO application is referred to the relevant agency. The agency may ask you for more information at this stage. You or the applicant will be given a minimum of 20 working days to send any additional information to the agency.

The agency then has 30 working days to consider an ESO application. If the agency decides to give an ESO, a significant development DA can be lodged for assessment.

After an ESO decision is made, it will be provided to you or the applicant, and is published below. The ESO takes effect from the day the agency gives the opinion and expires after 18 months.

More information is also available in the Guide to Environmental Significance Opinions [639.3 KB].

Lodging an ESO application

An ESO application needs to contain sufficient information to allow the agency to understand the nature of the environmental impacts. More information on these requirements is available in the Factsheet: Making an EIS Scoping Document or ESO application [564.7 KB] .

The required documentation includes a completed Application for Environmental Impact Assessment Processes with the following attached:

• a signed Letter of Authorisation form [255.5 KB], with details and signatures of all lessees or land custodians of the land the proposal relates to
• a statement of the objectives of the project and why it’s needed
• information on the nature of the project
• locality information including maps or plans of the site and any preliminary design drawings
• a contamination site assessment or statement from the Environment Protection Authority that an assessment is not required
• a description of the natural conservation values of the site, including relevant spatial data
• a description of the ways you’ll aim to avoid, reduce or offset any impacts on conservation values, including how Biodiversity Sensitive Urban Design Guide design elements have been considered (where applicable)
• any models used to address Water Sensitive Urban Design Guidelines (where applicable)
• information on any decision made under the EPBC Act related to your proposal and
• redacted documentation suitable for public notification (where applicable).

Transition arrangements

Details of recent ESOs are below. Under the transition arrangements in the Planning Act 2023, any active ESO from the old planning system transfers across.

This means ESOs granted under the old planning system can still support DAs for non-significant developments until they expire.

Current ESOs

Contact us

Related content

• Navigating the planning process - developments requiring an EIS or ESO [537.7 KB]
• Making an EIS Scoping Document or ESO application [564.7 KB]
• Guide to Environmental Significance Opinions [639.3 KB]
• Applications and assessments
• Environmental Impact Assessment
• Environmental Impact Statements
• Exemption from requiring an EIS