Stantec Australia Pty Ltd has lodged an application on behalf of the ACT Government’s Transport Canberra and City Services Directorate (TCCS) for an EIS exemption under section 211B of the repealed Planning and Development Act 2007 for the Package 1C Main Works associated with planned upgrades to the Monaro Highway. Package 1C involves changes to the connecting road network at Lanyon Drive, David Warren Road, and Sheppard Street.

Package 1C works have been divided into three components, Early Works, Main Works, and Upstream Works. Works occurring on Territory Land for each of these three components will be subject to the following separate approval processes:

  • Early Works will be the subject of a merit track development application;
  • Main Works are the subject of this EIS exemption application, and will be subject to a future impact track development application; and
  • Upstream Works, which consist of upstream flood mitigation works on Dog Trap Creek, west of the Monaro Highway, will be the subject of a future development application, with the applicable assessment track to be confirmed as ongoing consultation with relevant entities progresses.

The remainder of Package 1C works are located within Designated Areas and will be subject to a separate Works Approval application submitted to the Nation Capital Authority (NCA).

The development proposal for the Package 1C Main Works, which are the subject of this EIS exemption application, include:

  • extending David Warren Road to the Lanyon Drive and Sheppard Street intersection, to compensate for the removal of the general access from the Monaro Highway
  • creating an exit from the Monaro Highway southbound carriageway to Lanyon Drive via a new off ramp, including a roundabout at the intersection of the Monaro Highway southbound off ramp and the extension of David Warren Road
  • installing and relocating utilities (electricity, water, sewer and telecommunications) required to accommodate the new road arrangement and ensure supply of essential services
  • widening of Dog Trap Creek adjacent to the new southbound off ramp bridge (east of the Highway) for flood mitigation purposes
  • creating a maintenance track for access to the Gas Enclosure near the proposed
  • roundabout
  • providing vegetated swales adjacent to the roadway to provide drainage and pollution control from sediment, nutrients and hydrocarbons
  • creating a hydrocarbon spill basin located between Lanyon Drive and Dog Trap Creek and
  • constructing a shared user path from the Lanyon Drive/ Sheppard Street intersection to the Alexander Maconochie Centre.

The proposed development is a proposal mentioned in Schedule 4, Part 4.3, Item 1 of the repealed Planning and Development Act 2007, being a proposal that is likely to have a significant adverse environmental impact on a protected matter (striped legless lizard), which is listed as a vulnerable species under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 and the Nature Conservation Act 2014.

In accordance with section 211 of the repealed Planning and Development Act 2007, the proponent lodged an application for an EIS Exemption with the Authority on the basis that sufficient information was available from previous recent studies to understand the environmental impacts of the proposal.

Despite its repeal, the Planning and Development Act 2007 continues to apply in relation to the application in accordance with section 632 of the Planning Act 2023 - Applications for EIS Exemption made before commencement day.

Overview of EIS exemptions

Section 211 of the Planning and Development Act 2007 allows for a proponent to seek exemption from the requirement to complete an Environmental Impact Statement. The Minister has discretion under this section to grant an exemption if satisfied that previous studies have adequately identified the potential environmental impacts of the proposal.

Public consultation and how to make a submission

The public consultation period for an EIS exemption application is a minimum of 15 working days. It is proposed that the consultation period for this proposal is 20 working days due to the complexity of the application. Therefore, the consultation period for Monaro Highway Upgrade Package 1C Main Works will commence on 5 January 2024 and will close on 2 February 2024.

No representations were received during the public consultation period.

EIS Exemption Consideration Report

Application and supporting documents

The application and supporting documentation are listed below.