The Environment Effects Statement (EES) assessed the potential social, economic and environmental impacts of the key Victorian Desalination Project components – the marine structures, plant, pipeline and power supply.

The EES has 1600 pages in the main volumes and 8100 pages of technical appendices. It involved more than 200 scientists and researchers in over 80 specialist studies.

Detailed studies included flora, fauna, cultural heritage, hydrology, landscaping, design and visual impact analysis, geotechnical and marine based investigations and social impact research.

The EES indicated that there are many social and economic benefits for local areas and that potential environmental impacts are generally short-term and limited to the period of construction.

These are mitigated through the Performance Requirements the Government placed in the contract with AquaSure and the Environmental Management Plan developed by AquaSure.

The EES contains a Summary Brochure , five volumes of the EES Main Report (Synthesis, Marine, Plant Site, Pipeline, Power Supply) and the Technical Appendices.

The EES and Environment Protection Authority (EPA) Works Approval Application were publicly exhibited from 20 August 2008 until 30 September 2008. Community members were invited to review the EES and provide comments.

The Department of Planning and Community Development facilitated the EES assessment through an Independent Panel Inquiry, public submissions and hearings and a report to the Minister for Planning.

About 400 public comments were received. A 15-day public hearing was held in October to November 2008, where the independent panel heard submissions from 20 community groups, five councils, and 74 individuals.

The Independent Expert Group report to the Panel found that the EES scope and approach made it unlikely that significant and unexpected marine impacts would occur.

In January 2009, the Minister for Planning, in his assessment, accepted the EES, stating that environmental impacts could be minimised or off-set to acceptable levels through the application of strict requirements.

In March 2009 the EPA issued a Works Approval. The EPA was satisfied that the proposed works met the requirements of the Environment Protection Act (1970) and were consistent with the relevant state environment protection policies.

Free CD copies of the complete EES, including Technical Appendices, can be obtained by emailing desalination.project@dse.vic.gov.au.