Planning and approvals
The North West Transmission Development project must go through a comprehensive environmental assessment and approvals process before the sections of transmission lines proposed for areas where there isn’t existing infrastructure can be constructed.
Like any major project developer, TasNetworks is required to prepare a Development Application (DA) and an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) as part of the environment, planning and heritage approvals process.
These documents will form one consolidated ‘application’ that will enable the Tasmanian Planning Commission (TPC) to assess the environmental, social and economic aspects of the project against the project assessment criteria and determine whether approvals will be granted and what conditions will be applied to allow the project to proceed to the construction phase. The Australian Government (Commonwealth) will also assess the application as it relates to Matters of National Environmental Significance (MNES) under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (1999) (EPBC Act).
A team of technical and environmental specialists have been engaged to undertake investigations to understand the existing conditions along the route.
The information gathered through the investigations informs the basis of our application for approval of the project.
A Development Application and Environmental Impact Assessment is required for the section between Staverton to Hampshire Hills. And a separate Development Application and Environmental Impact Assessment is required for the remaining sections of the project.