Overview
Background
GB Energy’s proposed project includes construction and operation of a pipeline and gas plant to produce gas from the Golden Beach gas field (in Victorian waters) for provision to the Victorian Transmission System.
The gas pipeline would be designed to flow in both directions which will allow for the Golden Beach gas field to be used as a gas reservoir or storage facility with a 40 year design life.
The proposed project includes the development if the following components:
- two subsea horizontal wells approximately 3.8 kilometres offshore south from the town of Golden Beach, a 2.5 kilometre subsea pipeline and subsea infrastructure and a 1.3 kilometre pipeline shore crossing to the south of Golden Beach
- a 21 kilometre buried pipeline in a 30 metre wide right of way from south-west of Golden Beach to Longford
- associated pipeline infrastructure, including a compressor station off Sandy Camp Road in Dutson to compress the gas and collect water entrained in the gas.
The development would occur in two stages. The first stage being the production of gas by extracting a portion (approximately 40 petajoules) of the gas within the reservoir. The second stage being the conversion of the reservoir to a gas storage facility, providing an initial withdrawal capacity of up to 250 terajoules per day.
Process
Minister's Assessment
On 6 April 2021, the Minister for Planning completed his assessment under the Environment Effects Act 1978, which concludes the environment effects statement process for this project. The assessment has been provided to statutory decision-makers to inform approval decisions on the project, including the pipeline licence application and works approval application.
Inquiry
An Inquiry was appointed to consider the EES, works approval application and pipeline licence application and public submissions and inquire into the environmental effects of the proposal.
A directions hearing was held on 17 December 2020. The Inquiry held a submitter conference on 18 January 2021 and provided its report to the Minister for Planning on 2 March 2021.
Exhibition of EES
The Environment Effects Statement (EES), together with the EPA Works Approval Application (WAA) and pipeline licence application was released for public comment for a period of 30 business days, from Monday 26 October and 11.59pm on Monday 7 December 2020.
A copy of the notice announcing exhibition can be viewed (PDF, 207.6 KB).
You can view the EES, Works Approval Application and pipeline licence application and any related documents at GB Energy Golden Beach Gas Projects.
You can view the submissions received on Engage Victoria.
Information about the process that will follow the conclusion of the public exhibition period can be found in the Panel or Committee tab.
Amended Procedures and Requirements
On 13 September 2020 the Minister issued amended procedures and requirements under the Environment Effects Act for the Golden Beach Gas Project EES. The amended procedures and requirements relate to the public exhibition and inquiry stages of the EES process, and provide for special measures to be implemented in light of the coronavirus pandemic and restrictions that apply under Victoria's state of emergency.
In particular, they provide for interested people to register to obtain their own copies of EES documentation, in the absence of the usual public display of hard copies at physical exhibition points. The Minister has also given direction about the possible use of technology such as video-conferencing for the inquiry.
The Minister issued his original procedures and requirements in September 2019 when he decided that an EES was required. The original procedures and requirements appear on this website in the Minister's Decision section below.
Scoping Requirements
The scoping requirements set out the matters to be investigated and documented in the EES.
Draft scoping requirements for this EES were placed on public exhibition in March 2020. After considering public submissions on the draft scoping requirements, the Minister for Planning issued final scoping requirements in May 2020, dated April 2020.
Scoping Requirements Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Consultation Plan
GB Energy has prepared a consultation plan for the EES, outlining the opportunities and approaches for its community engagement during the preparation of the EES.
The plan may be updated as required during the preparation of the EES. If the plan changes, the updated version will be posted on this page.
Technical Reference Group
The department is convening an inter-agency Technical Reference Group (TRG) to advise the proponent and the department, as appropriate, on scoping and adequacy of the EES studies during the preparation of the EES, as well as coordination with statutory approval processes.
Minister's Decision EES required
On 8 September 2019 the Minister for Planning required GB Energy (VIC) Pty Ltd to prepare an environment effects statement (EES) under the Environment Effects Act 1978 to assess the potential environmental effects of the project.
More Information
If you have any questions or feedback, please get in touch via the contact details below:
- Proposed Golden Beach Gas Project queries:
GB Energy Pty Ltd
☎ Phone: 1800 423 637
✉ Email: info@gbenergy.com.au
- EES process queries:
Impact Assessment Unit
☎ Phone: (03) 8622 7633
✉ Email: environment.assessment@delwp.vic.gov.au
Panel or Committee
Golden Beach Gas Project Inquiry
The Minister for Planning appointed an inquiry known as the Golden Beach Gas Project Inquiry (the Inquiry) to consider and advise on the Environment Effects Statement (EES), EPA Works Approval Application (WAA) and public submissions received on the proposed Golden Beach Gas Project.
The Inquiry was also appointed as a Panel to consider and advise the Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change on the pipeline licence application.
Terms of Reference
The work and scope of the Inquiry is guided by Terms of Reference that were issued by the Minister for Planning on 18 October 2020.
View the terms of Reference (PDF, 966.0 KB) or (DOCX, 71.9 KB).
The Panel must act in accordance with the requirements of the Pipelines Act and any specification in its instrument of appointment.
Members
The Inquiry comprises of the following members.
- Nick Wimbush (Chair)
- Sarah Carlisle (Deputy Chair)
- Trevor Blake
- Sandra Brizga
Learn more about the members by reading their biographies (DOC, 58.0 KB) or the view the accessible version (DOC, 58.0 KB).
Progress
Exhibition period and submissions
The EES for the Golden Beach Gas Project, together with EPA Works Approval Application and pipeline licence was publicly exhibited for a period of 30 business days, from Monday 26 October and 11.59pm on Monday 7 December 2020.
Online submissions were invited from Monday 26 October and 11.59pm on Monday 7 December 2020.
Directions Hearing
The Directions Hearing was conducted by video conference using Microsoft Teams at 10.00am on Thursday 17 December 2020.
At the Directions Hearing, the Inquiry:
- highlighted submissions received and identified what it saw as the key issues
- reviewed the findings from the site inspection
- discussed information requests from the Inquiry
- discussed the format and conduct of the submitter conference and
- answered any questions people may have about the submitter conference.
Submitter conference
A one-day submitter conference was conducted by video conference using Microsoft Teams on Monday 18 January 2021.
The submitter conference was a more informal round table forum to enable the issues raised in submissions to be explored by the Inquiry, together with the submitters who indicated they wanted to participate and the proponent.
Report
The Inquiry and Panel submitted its report on 2 March 2021 to the Minister for Planning and the Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change within 30 business days from the last date of the submitter conference, in accordance with the Terms of Reference and Instrument of Appointment.
The Inquiry and Panel report can be found on the ‘Overview’ and ‘Documents’ tab.
The Minister for Planning’s assessment under the Environment Effects Act 1978 can also be found on the ‘Overview’ and ‘Documents’ tab.
More information
If you have any questions or need further information, get in touch via the contact details below.
Inquiry Process and making a submission
Planning Panels Victoria
✉ Email: Planning.Panels@delwp.vic.gov.au.
Ministers Assessment and EES Process
Impact Assessment Unit, DELWP
☎ Phone: (03) 8392 5503
✉ Email: environment.assessment@delwp.vic.gov.au.
Proposed Golden Beach Gas Project
GB Energy (Vic) Pty Ltd
☎ Phone: 1800 423 637
✉ Email: info@gbenergy.com.au.
EPA Works Approval
EPA Victoria
☎ Phone: 1300 372 842
✉ Email: works.approvals@epa.vic.gov.au.
Pipeline Licence
Pipeline Regulator Victoria, Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning
☎ Phone: 136 186
✉ Email: pipeline.regulation@delwp.vic.gov.au.