Key Points:
Although the water trigger Guidelines are helpful, the
EPBC Act should remain the primary reference when determining
whether to refer an action that may have a significant impact on
the environment.
Proponents and other stakeholders now have the Federal
Government's perspective on what is a significant impact from
coal mining and CSG projects on water resources, with its release
of the "Significant Impact Guidelines 1.3; Coal seam gas and
large coal mining developments – impacts on water
resources".
The Guidelines support the 2013 amendment to the Environment
Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC
Act), which introduced as a "matter of national
environmental significance" an action involving coal seam gas
development or large coal mining development that has, will have or
is likely to have a significant impact on a water resource (the
water trigger).
