South Australian Current Regulations

ENERGY RESOURCES REGULATIONS 2013 - REG 14

14—Consultation by Minister

        (1)         For the purposes of section 105A of the Act, the Minister must undertake public consultation required under that section in accordance with the requirements of this regulation.

        (2)         The Minister must publish a notice in such manner as the Minister thinks fit—

            (a)         specifying a place at which a copy of the relevant environmental impact report and statement (or revised statement) of environmental objectives may be obtained; and

            (b)         inviting written submissions in relation to the environmental impact report or statement (or revised statement) of environmental objectives to be given within a period specified in the notice (which must be at least 30 days after publication of the notice).

        (3)         The Minister—

            (a)         must give to the licensee a copy of any submission received by the Minister under this regulation within the relevant period specified by the Minister; and

            (b)         may require the licensee to respond to any matter raised in any such submission within a period specified by the Minister.

        (4)         A submission under subregulation (2)(b) or a response under subregulation (3)(b) cannot be made on the basis that the submission or response (or part of the submission or response) will be kept confidential.

        (5)         The Minister may refuse to publish submissions made under this regulation on grounds that the submissions are irrelevant, offensive, or on any other grounds that the Minister thinks fit.

        (6)         The Minister must cause copies of written submissions and responses made under this regulation to be available for inspection on the environmental register.

        (7)         Before approving a statement (or revised statement) of environmental objectives, the Minister must be satisfied that—

            (a)         the licensee has satisfactorily addressed any submissions received under this regulation; and

            (b)         the licensee has amended the environmental impact report or statement (or revised statement) of environmental objectives (as the case may be) to take into account any submissions received under this regulation.

        (8)         The Minister may, if appropriate, amend an environmental impact report as a result of consultation undertaken under this regulation.