Stage 2B Draft Environmental Impact Statement
Stage 2B draft EIS on exhibition until XX XXXXXX
Design, planning, and approvals for Stage 2B are progressing.
Infrastructure Canberra has submitted a draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to both the Australian and ACT governments for approval.
About the Stage 2B EIS
Design, planning and approvals for Stage 2B are progressing. Infrastructure Canberra has submitted a draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to both the Australian and ACT governments for approval.
The draft EIS examines the project's potential environmental, social and economic impacts, and suggests ways to manage or mitigate them. It includes the ACT Government's preferred alignment option, State Circle East, and an alternative alignment option through the National Triangle and Barton.
Infrastructure Canberra will revise the EIS based on matters raised during the public exhibition period. A submissions report will show how this feedback has been addressed.
The final EIS will propose one alignment and be resubmitted to both the Australian and ACT governments. This process will determine if the project can proceed and if so, under what conditions.
An EIS assesses the environmental, social and economic impacts a project may have on its surroundings. An EIS:
details the features of the project and describes how it would be built and operated
describes the current environment of the project area
looks at the anticipated impacts of the project
outlines how positive outcomes may be achieved or enhanced
outlines mitigation measures that will reduce, minimise or avoid identified impacts during construction and operation
provides a conclusion about whether the impacts are acceptable and justified.
Light Rail Stage 2B is a complex project that requires several Australian and Territory government environmental and planning approvals.
Stage 2B requires both Australian and Territory approvals because the project connects Commonwealth Park to Woden, passing over areas of Commonwealth and Territory land, and is likely to significantly impact matters of national environmental significance.
The Australian Government Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) is responsible for protecting nationally significant matters using the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act). The EPBC Act protects and manages nationally significant plants, animals, habitats and heritage places.
The Territory Planning Authority (TPA) requires formal assessment of potential environmental impacts in zoned Territory Land for some proposals. This is done through an EIS process, as outlined in the Planning Act 2023.
Infrastructure Canberra has prepared the draft EIS to satisfy legislative requirements under both the EPBC Act and the Planning Act. The draft EIS has been lodged with DCCEEW and the TPA for assessment.
DCCEEW and the TPA have separate processes to ensure all applicable requirements have been met in relation to the draft EIS.
DCCEEW will consider the consistency of the draft EIS with the Commonwealth EIS guidelines (July 2024). The TPA will consider the consistency of the draft EIS with the EIS scoping document it issued for the project in March 2024.
The draft EIS is on public exhibition until xx date.
Under the EPBC Act, Infrastructure Canberra has published the draft EIS. You can view the draft EIS on this webpage.
Under the Planning Act, the draft EIS is displayed on the TPA’s website.
Printed copies are also available to view at:
Civic Library (Civic Square, London Circuit)
Dickson Library (Antill Street, Dickson)
Gungahlin Library (Corner of Hibberson Street and Gozzard Street, Gungahlin)
Tuggeranong Library (Cowlishaw St, Greenway)
Woden Library (Corinna Street, Phillip)
Submissions on the draft EIS close xx date.
The community is invited to review the draft EIS and make a submission during the public exhibition period. Submissions can be made either through the TPA or Infrastructure Canberra:
TPA representations
Representations (submissions) can be made to the TPA (under the Planning Act) at [hyperlink to website].
Infrastructure Canberra
Complete the submissions template [link] to make a submission to Infrastructure Canberra (Under EPBC Act) and email to Stage2BEIS@act.gov.au.
Alternatively, submissions can be mailed to:
Light Rail to Woden Project
PO Box 158
ACT 2601
A submission number will be provided when your submission is received.
All submissions and representations will be considered by both federal and territory authorities. Infrastructure Canberra and the TPA will share all submissions and representations with one another.
Infrastructure Canberra will review and consider all matters raised during the exhibition period and update the EIS to address concerns and suggestions made.
The final EIS will include a report that outlines:
the submissions and representations,
the issues raised,
a response to the issues, and
key project amendments made to the Draft EIS.
The final EIS will then be lodged again to DCCEEW and TPA for consideration. DCCEEW and TPA may then approve the EIS with conditions and recommendations. The final EIS will be publicly available.
If accepted and approved, the project will progress to planning applications for Works Approval(s) (National Capital Authority), Development Approval(s) (TPA), and approval under the Parliament Act.
Read the EIS guide for more information [link].
Infrastructure Canberra is hosting several events to help the community understand the draft EIS.
[calendar of events (TBC)]
Stage 2B draft EIS summary
Stage 2B draft EIS guide
Submissions template
Visit the gallery
Draft EIS
The draft EIS assesses the potential impacts of Light Rail Stage 2B during construction and operation and outlines management and mitigation measures to reduce, minimise or avoid those impacts.
The draft EIS is structured in a way that makes it easier for the community to understand the impacts in areas most important to them. The document looks at the project as a whole and as seven unique precincts, plus the Mitchell Depot (which would be expanded by the project). Precincts include Commonwealth Avenue, Parliament House, Inner South, Yarra Glen and Woden. The draft EIS also includes an alternative alignment through National Triangle and Barton precincts.
View the parts and chapters of the draft EIS in the sections below.
Part A describes the project and discusses the surrounding context. The executive summary and first five chapters provide an overview of the project and draft EIS. The remaining chapters in Part A consider construction, sustainability, legislation and EIS assessment approaches and methodologies.
Part B is the assessment of the environmental impacts resulting from the project’s construction and operation. These 10 chapters provide an assessment for each precinct, Mitchell Depot and issues that are not precinct-specific and/or apply to the whole project.
Part C includes a chapter that lists management and mitigation measures to address the identified environmental impacts. The final chapter concludes and summarises the draft EIS findings and details the justification for carrying out the project.
Part D includes appendices and technical reports that support the draft EIS.