Approvals | Star of the South

Star of the South is going through a comprehensive environmental impact assessment process.

Commonwealth Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
Victorian Environment Effects Statement (EES).

Public review
coming soon

We’ve prepared environmental assessments for Star of the South – firstly to seek Commonwealth approval, then to apply for other Commonwealth and Victorian approvals, consents and licences needed to progress the project.

These assessments are expected to be available for public review around mid-2026.

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What's an environmental impact assessment?

An environmental impact assessment studies how a project could affect the environment and local communities.

It includes detailed studies of potential environmental, social, economic and planning effects that could arise during a project’s construction, operation and decommissioning, and proposes measures to ensure the project is delivered with minimal impact.

Specialists carry out these studies over several years. Their findings are documented in formal assessment documents that are reviewed by the public, government regulators and Ministers before any approval decisions are made.

Star of the South’s assessments have been informed by years of scientific environmental surveys, consultation and 26 technical studies.

They will provide information about:

The project scope and rationale
How it has been developed and assessed
How it will be constructed, operated and decommissioned
Potential impacts and how they will be addressed.

Commonwealth Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)

Star of the South is being assessed through an EIS process managed by the Australian Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water.

The EIS examines:

The offshore wind farm and its transmission system
Activities across all phases – construction, operation and decommissioning
Potential environmental impacts under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (EPBC Act).

The EPBC Act is Australia’s main environmental legislation for protecting and managing nationally and internationally important plants, animals, habitats and places.

Key steps in the process are:

We referred Star of the South under the EPBC Act in May 2020.

In June 2020, a delegate of the Australian Minister for the Environment determined that the project is a controlled action and requires assessment and approval under the EPBC Act before it can proceed. It was determined that the project will be assessed by an EIS (EPBC number 2020/8650).

The assessment guidelines set out the matters to be investigated and documented in the EIS.

Draft assessment guidelines were prepared by the Department and placed on public exhibition in July 2021. After considering public submissions on the draft scoping requirements, the Minister approved final assessment guidelines in 2021.

To prepare the EIS, we undertook:

Environmental surveys
Community and stakeholder consultation
Technical studies and modelling.

We submitted a draft EIS to the Department in December 2025 and it is currently being reviewed for adequacy, prior to being released for public review.

The next step is for the draft EIS to be published for public review.

During the public review period, anyone may read the EIS and make a submission to the Australian Minister for the Environment.

We’ll review all submissions made, respond to issues raised, and submit a final EIS to the Minister.

After considering the final EIS, public submissions, and advice from the Department, the Minister decides if the project is approved, approved with conditions, or not approved under the EPBC Act.

Victorian Environment Effects Statement (EES)

Works in Victoria for Star of the South are also being assessed through an EES process, managed by the Victorian Department of Transport and Planning.

The EES examines:

Underground transmission cables on land and in Victorian coastal waters
Victorian works across all phases – construction, operation and decommissioning
Potential environmental effects from the Victorian works, under the Environment Effects Act (EE Act).

Key steps in the process are:

We referred Star of the South under the EE Act in May 2020.

In May 2020, the Victorian Minister for Planning required Star of the South to prepare an EES under the EE Act to assess the potential environmental effects of project components within Victoria.

The scoping requirements set out the matters to be investigated and documented in the EES.

Draft scoping requirements were prepared by the Department and public comment invited in July 2021. After considering public submissions on the draft scoping requirements, the Minister approved final scoping requirements in 2021.

To prepare the EES, we undertook:

Environmental surveys
Community and stakeholder consultation
Technical studies and modelling.

We submitted the EES to the Department in December 2025 and it is currently being reviewed for adequacy, prior to being released for public review.

The next step is for the EES to be published for public review.

During the public review period, anyone may read the EES and make a submission.

The Minister may appoint an inquiry to evaluate the effects of the project, after reviewing the EES studies and public submissions.

After considering the EES, public submissions, and the inquiry report, the Minister makes an assessment of the project’s environmental effects. This assessment must be considered by decision makers responsible for Victorian approvals and consents.