As a Critical State Significant Infrastructure (CSSI) project, HumeLink is following a comprehensive Commonwealth and State environmental assessment process. This acknowledges that CSSI projects are large and complex, and can have major economic, environmental, and social impacts.

As part of the planning approval process, HumeLink was required to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). An EIS identifies and assesses the potential environmental, economic and social impacts of the project to help government agencies, relevant authorities, community and stakeholders to make an informed decision or provide an informed submission on the merits of the project. ​​ 

The EIS is firstly assessed by the NSW Government and then sent to the Commonwealth Government for assessment.

 

 

Public exhibition

On 30 August 2023, the EIS was lodged with the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (DPHI) – formerly known as DPE – and placed on public exhibition until Tuesday 10 October 2023.

The public exhibition enabled the community to read the EIS document, seek clarification and provide DPHI with direct feedback via a formal submission.

The main body of the EIS and the associated specialist studies were available online through the NSW Major Projects Planning Portal. Printed copies of the main body of the EIS were also available during the exhibition period at select community libraries across the project footprint and available to be posted to landowners upon request.

An interactive digital EIS also presented key information for four months from the start of the exhibition to support better understanding of the project’s EIS.

The HumeLink project team held 22 community information sessions across the project footprint and 3 webinars during the exhibition. We also visited landowners with our Remote Access Community Hub (RACH), held additional sessions for Community Consultative Group members, and promoted our activities extensively across local media, in our newsletters and updates.

Submissions received during public exhibition are used to guide the project’s final determination and any conditions of approval. All submissions received are available on DPHI's website and have been shared with Transgrid.

We are in the process of collating and reviewing the submissions received on the project’s EIS, which are responded to in a Submissions Report.

Project next steps

A number of proposed project amendments and refinements have been identified in response to issues raised in these submissions, as well as in response to ongoing design development and construction planning. These will be assessed and reported in an Amendment Report which, with the Submissions Report, will be submitted to the DPHI and made publicly available on the NSW Major Projects Planning Portal.

Following the lodgment of the Submissions Report and the Amendment Report, the DPHI will assess and make a final determination on the project. If approval is granted, the Minister will provide a report outlining Conditions of Approval for the project’s next stage.