Pre-lodgement meeting

It is strongly recommended that, before lodging an application for a 'coordinated project' declaration, project proponents schedule a pre-lodgement meeting with the Office of the Coordinator-General (OCG).

Ideally, the meeting should be held at least four weeks before the application is lodged.

Purpose of meeting

The pre-lodgement meeting is intended to clarify application requirements, thereby preventing any unnecessary delays to the Coordinator-General's consideration of the application and potential declaration of the project.

It is also intended to initiate discussion of environmental impact assessment timeframes and the quality of the information necessary to properly assess the impacts of the proposed project.

Pre-lodgement meetings are not intended to pre-empt the Coordinator-General's final decision on an application for a coordinated project declaration.

Topics of discussion

Pre-lodgement meetings are an opportunity for the proponent and OCG to discuss, among other things:

assessment process, including timeframes
EIS or IAR assessment pathway
fees
content of IAS
requirements of financial and technical capability statement
pre-feasibility assessment requirements
terms of reference for the environmental impact statement for project
criteria under section 27 of the State Development and Public Works Organisation Act 1971
approvals, including any alternative approval pathways
expected date of the final investment decision
high-risk, sensitive or contentious matters or impacts
possible referral of project to the Australian Government.