After a matter has been lodged with us and we have made our recommendation to the Minister for the Environment, the Minister may choose to refer the matter to a board of inquiry, or the Environment Court.
Alternatively, if it is determined that the matter is not of national significance, it may be referred back to the local authority for determination at that level. They will then notify and call for submissions.
If the Minister determines that the matter is of national significance, we then publicly notify the matter and a call for submissions is made. Any person is able to make a submission to us on the matter.
A submission can be:
- in support;
- in opposition;
- Support some parts and oppose other parts; or
- Neither support or oppose but are just making a neutral submission with information you would like to be considered.
If the Minister has directed the matter to be referred to Environment Court, we hand the proposal over to them once the submission period has closed. If the Minister has directed the matter to be dealt with by a board of inquiry, we will facilitate this process until a determination on the application has been made by the board.