Beveridge to Albury approvals
In 2022 Inland Rail received Victorian and Australian Government planning, environment and heritage approvals for the Beveridge to Albury section, paving the way to progress plans to build Inland Rail in Victoria. Construction on Tranche 1 is underway.
Community and stakeholder input and feedback has been an important part of the approvals process.
We’ve considered and incorporated, where possible, this feedback as part of the project design and complied with requirements from the Urban Design Framework, Planning Scheme Amendment, Environment Report and Heritage Permits.
Tranche 2 Approvals
As the designs for Tranche 2 have progressed, it has become evident that there are additional land requirements which are outside the current approved areas. Additional land is required to build the project more efficiently, to respond to stakeholder feedback, meet technical, operational and rail safety requirements and achieve improved design.
Changes to these approvals for the additional land required are being facilitated through a new Planning Scheme Amendment and Environment Report addendum, which outlines the expansion of the project boundary and reviews and mitigates the potential environmental impacts.
In May and June 2024 the Planning Scheme Amendment and Environment Report addendum were on exhibition and the public were invited to make a written submission.
All submissions received will be summarised and provided to the Victorian Minister for Planning as part of the formal request for the Minister to consider and endorse the proposed Planning Scheme Amendment and the Environment Report addendum.
Project sites impacted are: Broadford-Wandong Road, Wandong; Hamilton Street, Broadford; Short Street, Broadford; Marchbanks Road, Broadford; Hume Freeway, Tallarook; Hume Freeway, Seymour; Euroa Station Precinct, Euroa.
Environment
The Australian Government approved the project under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (EPBC Act) 1999 in September 2022.
This approval followed the Victorian Government’s endorsement of the Environment Report and approval of the associated Environmental Management Framework.
The framework ensures Inland Rail meets regulatory requirements to manage the environment within project areas across North East Victoria.
It identifies potential impacts on native vegetation, habitat and biodiversity values associated with listed threatened species and communities and sets out conditions that must be met to mitigate these impacts.
The approvals are subject to ARTC meeting these conditions so that Inland Rail can be delivered in Victoria.
Planning
The Victorian Minister for Planning approved and Gazetted the Planning Scheme Assessment (PSA) applicable to Inland Rail in Victoria in March 2022.
The amendment is a change to the relevant planning scheme of each Local Government, within the project area. It applies a project-specific planning control that removes the need for separate planning permits, subject to conditions being met.
The planning schemes amended include:
- Whittlesea
- Mitchell
- Strathbogie
- Benalla
- Wangaratta
- Wodonga
Urban Design Framework
Following the Victorian Government’s approval of the Planning Scheme Amendment, the associated Urban Design Framework (UDF) was approved in October 2022.
This framework is a requirement of the PSA and sets out an integrated design vision for future development of urban places. It takes a holistic approach that integrates the technical needs of Inland Rail with heritage, biodiversity, transport planning and amenity aspects.
Community and stakeholder consultation of the UDF is supporting the shared vision that helps inform Inland Rail detailed design.
View the UDF Framework
Heritage
Heritage Victoria granted heritage permits for works that impact the Glenrowan Heritage Precinct and the Wangaratta Railway Station Complex, which are both state listed heritage places.
The Wangaratta heritage permit was approved in September 2022 and the Glenrowan heritage permit was approved in August 2022. Visit Heritage Victoria for more information. Both permits are subject to conditions.
Compliance monitoring and auditing
The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) requires a compliance monitoring and auditing program to be in place for projects referred under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act).
View the EPBC Annual Compliance Report 2023
The Environmental Management Framework (EMF), endorsed by the Victorian Minister for Planning, requires an independent environmental auditor be appointed to audit the design and construction contractors’ compliance with the EMF, relevant Environmental Performance Requirements (EPRs), Construction Environmental Management Plan, and any other plans required by the EPRs, conditions of project approvals and as required by Inland Rail.
Independent Audit Reports
View the Glenrowan audit June 2023
View the Wangaratta, Glenrowan, Murray Valley Highway audit November 2023