Site surveys for EIS preparation:

• Marine Ecology - planning and approvals for proposed upcoming marine ecology surveys have commenced, details as follows:
  • Surveys include collecting data on the fish community and marine habitat, introduced marine species, intertidal surveys, and water quality. 
  • Surveys to commence in March 2025, and will be undertaken in the Northern and Southern Project Areas. 
  • Surveys are required in the Southern Project Areas to support potential construction access for material and equipment if required. No marine infrastructure is proposed to be built in the South Zone. The marine infrastructure is relocated to the North as advised in the December 2024 householder update.
• Terrestrial Ecology - surveys have been undertaken within the Northern and Southern Project Areas as follows: 
  • Additional areas of similar habitat outside of the project areas have been surveyed to enable an assessment of the importance of the habitat within the Project Areas in the wider context. 
  • Surveys have included vegetation mapping, threatened flora surveys, snail, bird surveys and reptile surveys. 
  • Next planned survey to record migratory shorebirds is planned for mid-February 2025.

Phase B Community Consultation:

• Phase B community consultation period ended on 31 January 2025. 
• The Project Team will now commence a review of all submissions and comments received on the master plan concepts. 
• An Engagement Outcomes Report is in progress and will be publicly available on the Critical Infrastructure Program website.

Projects Progress includes:

• Master Planning & Authority Approvals - master plans are in finalisation by the Project Team following stakeholder and community feedback. Agencies consultation is in progress on Draft Secretary’s Environmental Assessment Requirements (SEARs), including pre-referrals with DCCEEW Commonwealth for the LHI Critical Infrastructure Project available on the NSW Major Projects Planning Portal. 
• Waste Management Facility - remediation planning is in progress with the EPA and LHIB. Finalisation of architectural design plans are in progress, working closely with the LHIB waste management team.
• Marine Infrastructure – engineering assessment of the required infrastructure and upgrades to the existing jetty are in progress in the North Zone location.
• Replacement Vessel & Operations – The Project Team are progressing contract documents for both the Marine Vessel and Freight Forwarding Services analysis and research.
• Biosecurity Infrastructure - Biosecurity Functional and Services Brief are nearly complete to inform the North and South Zone Master Plans.

Next steps the Program will focus on are:

• Finalise master plans for the North Zone (Cargo Unloading Facility and Marine Infrastructure) and South Zone (Waste Management Facility) in consultation with Government Stakeholder Consultation Group and Community Consultation Group.
• Progress the Environmental Impact Statement Report in response to the SEARs as part of requesting development approval for the LHI CIP.
• Finalise the Environmental Impact Statement Report for submission to the NSW Major Projects Planning Portal in mid-2025.
• New Marine Vessel - Tender documentation, the Contract and Technical Specification are being finalised by the Naval Architect and Transaction Team for the release of the tender in early/mid 2025. 
• The “What we Heard” Report from the December 2024 /January 2025 on-island community consultation period will be made publicly available by April 2025.

If you have any questions or comments on the Program, please email the team at [email protected].