FACILITATING ENVIRONMENTAL APPROVALS PROCESS—EAST SPAR

Abstract

A commitment was made in December 1994 to develop the East Spar gas and condensate field, located in Commonwealth waters approximately 40 km NW of Barrow Island. A number of development options were available and the preparation for the environmental approvals process was initiated in mid-1994. Environmental approval for the East Spar project required satisfying State and Federal Government requirements. In the midst of the approvals process, Justice Sackville of the Federal Court handed down his decision in the Gunn's Woodchip case, significantly altering the way in which the Commonwealth Environ-ment Protection (Impact of Proposals) Act (EP(IP)Act) would be interpreted.

In the face of considerable uncertainty about how the federal approvals process would then operate, WMC Petroleum as the operator of the development actively promoted dialogue with and solicited input from, community groups and environmental agencies. This approach involved an intensive but relatively informal consultation process at the company's initiative, well in advance of any statutory requirements. When the project was formally assessed by the Commonwealth regulatory agencies, environmental approval was expedited through the informal consultation process. This pro-active approach offers a useful and efficient model for seeking and gaining environmental clearances.