Hydro Tasmania has submitted its proposal to strengthen, (rebuild) the Edgar Dam in the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area to the Federal Minister through the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act process.

Public comments on Hydro’s proposed Edgar Dam works are open until March 13th. 

Your submission must state that these works need to be a controlled action under the EPBC Act due to the impacts on the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area. 

You may attached a copy of this submission outline to your own public comment.

But note you cannot copy and paste comments into the EPBC portal. But you can write ‘please see attachment’ and attached this word document.

Alternatively you can submit a pro forma document here – this is a low effort means of creating change, but also has less overall impact. However, if you’re short on time it is better than not making a comment.

The first part of that process is for the Federal Minister to determine whether the proposed action is a controlled action, that is, that it has a significant impact on any matter of National Environmental Significance (NES), including National Heritage values. Hydro agrees there will be Env impact  as per below but argues they are not significant.  

The matters of national environmental significance protected under national environment law that are relevant to the Edgar Dam and the TWWHA  include:

• listed threatened species and communities
• listed migratory species
• world heritage properties
• national heritage places

The definition of ‘significant’ https://www.dcceew.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/nes-guidelines_1.pdf

If significant impacts are considered likely, and the action is deemed to be a controlled action, then the referral will proceed to the next stages of the process – environmental assessment and approval. If not, then the project proceeds without Environmental Assessment. Hydro Tasmania alleges that its proposed dam works are not a controlled action.

Supporters of the restoration of Lake Pedder and the decommissioning of the Edgar Dam must persuade the Minister and her Department that what Hydro is proposing will have a significant impact on matters of Env significance and must be declared a ‘controlled action’. 

If that occurs, then a further period of assessment follows and an opportunity to submit further research and evidence.

1. The link to the EPBC portal where you make your submission is at this linkSubmission Link: https://epbcpublicportal.awe.gov.au/open-for-comments/project-decision/?id=678480d9-09d5-ee11-904d-0022489309b5
2.   Fill in your contact detail
3. Click yes on the question “Do you consider this is a controlled action?”. It is important that the Minister declares this project a controlled action. This means the action can not be undertaken without federal assessment and approval.
4.  Make out your reasons for why this action is a controlled action in 500 words or less. As explained above, this  must be restricted to Matters of National Environmental Significance as defined by the EPBC Act. Our draft submission will give you the information. Alternatively, you can cut and paste the draft submission into the box, or modify it to make your argument.

 5.  Fill out the remaining privacy and declaration sections

 6.  Click submit your comment, and then share this with as many people as you can.