Victoria's Major Transport Projects Facilitation Act - Streamlining Key Approvals

Key Points:
The Act will streamline the planning and environmental assessment and approvals process for major transport projects.

The Major Transport Projects Facilitation Act 2009 (Vic) commenced operation on 1 November 2009 and supports the State Government's Victorian Transport Plan and $38 billion worth of planned investment in transport projects in Victoria. On 27 January 2010, the Peninsula Link Project, linking the Mornington Peninsula Freeway and Eastlink at Carrum Downs to the Mornington Peninsula Freeway at Mount Martha, was the first project to be declared under the Act.

As this project had already undergone assessment under the Environment Effects Act 1978 (Vic), the declaration did not apply the environmental assessment and approvals provisions set out in Parts 3 and 8 of the Act. However, for the majority of projects declared in the future, these provisions will apply to streamline the planning and environmental assessment and approvals process.