Status
On this page:
Background
Lower Murray Urban and Rural Water Corporation (LMW) proposes to undertake the Victorian Murray Floodplain Restoration Project (VMFRP) which consists of nine discrete sub-projects: Gunbower, Guttrum-Benwell, Vinifera, Nyah, Burra Creek, Hattah Lakes North, Belsar-Yungera, Wallpolla Island and Lindsay Island.
The Vinifera Floodplain Restoration Project (Vinifera), Nyah Floodplain Restoration Project (Nyah) and Burra Creek Floodplain Restoration Project (Burra Creek) aim to return a more natural flooding regime to 488 hectares (ha), 350 ha and 403 ha, respectively, of high ecological value floodplain.
The works proposed for these projects will include construction of:
- channels
- regulators
- containment banks
- drop structures
- spillways
- access tracks and realignments/upgrades to existing access tracks
- borrow pit sites to supply fill material to support construction.
The Minister for Planning’s decisions not to require an EES under the Environment Effects Act 1978 (the Act) for the Nyah, Vinifera and Burra Creek projects does require an environment report process to be undertaken to assess each project’s potentially significant environmental effects. (See the Reasons for decision reports below)
Public review and Inquiry
Inquiry and advisory committee
See Planning Panels Victoria Victorian Murray Floodplain Restoration: Vinifera, Nyah and Burra Creek
Exhibition
The environment effects statement and draft planning scheme amendment were publicly exhibited for comment for 30 business days, from Monday 30 January 2023 to Friday 10 March 2023.
You can view the EES, project documentation and any related documents at Victorian Murray Floodplain Restoration Project
EES preparation
Consultation plan
LMW has prepared a consultation plan for the environment report process, outlining the opportunities and approaches for its community engagement during the preparation of the environment report.
Technical reference group
DTP convened an inter-agency technical reference group to support all nine VMFRP sub-projects being assessed under the Act. The TRG will be used to advise the proponent and DTP on the development of the environment report.
This includes advising, as appropriate, on scoping and adequacy of the technical studies conducted by the proponent to support the preparation of the environment report, as well as coordination with relevant statutory approval processes.
The organisations represented on the Technical reference group are:
- DTP – Impact Assessment (chair)
- DEECA – Loddon Mallee Region
- Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water
- Earth Resources Regulation
- Department of Transport and Planning –Transport
- First Peoples - State Relations
- Heritage Victoria
- Relevant Registered Aboriginal Parties
- Relevant Local Councils
- Relevant Catchment Management Authorities
- Parks Victoria
- Lower Murray Water
- Goulburn Murray Water
- Environment Protection Authority
Scoping requirements
The core scope of the environment report is included within the conditions set by the Minister in his decision on the EES referrals. A scoping document has been prepared by DELWP (now Department of Transport and Planning) to help specify these matters needing to be investigated and documented by the proponent in the environment report and supporting technical studies.
Minister's decision
On 11 June, 7 July and 6 September 2020 the Minister for Planning decided that an environment effects statement was not required for the Nyah, Vinifera and Burra Creek projects, respectively, subject to conditions being met.
The Minister’s decisions require LMW to prepare an environment report (in lieu of an EES) under the Environment Effects Act 1978 to assess and manage specific potentially significant environmental effects of the Nyah, Vinifera and Burra Creek projects.
Project contact
If you have any questions or feedback, please get in touch via the contact details below.
Lower Murray Water
Proposed Nyah Floodplain Restoration Project, Vinifera Floodplain Restoration Project and Burra Creek Floodplain Restoration Project queries:
https://www.vmfrp.com.au/projects/
✉ Email: info@vmfrp.vic.gov.au
Page last updated: 15/08/23