Parkes Energy Recovery
SEARs Update

Good afternoon,

Yesterday the NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (DPHI) released the Planning Secretary’s Environmental Assessment Requirements, marking an important step in the process.

What do the SEARs mean?

The Planning Secretary’s Environmental Assessment Requirements (SEARs) are the first formal step in the State Significant Development (SSD) assessment process. This is not an approval, and no decision has been made about the project. The SEARs simply outline the studies and assessments that must be completed before the project can be considered.

The SEARs define the scope of work for our Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). They outline the key matters that must be examined in detail, including air quality, human health, traffic and transport, noise, biodiversity, water, heritage, safety and community impacts.

SEARs Explainer Guide

To support understanding of this, we have developed an Explainer Guide to the SEARs to explain what the SEARs are, what we are required to do, and what it means for you.

We welcome this step. The SEARs provide clarity, structure and transparency in the assessment process, ensuring the project is examined thoroughly and rigorously before any decision is made.

If you have any questions about this, please don’t hesitate to email, call or visit our Parkes community information office (by appointment).

We will continue to keep you informed at every key milestone.

Kind regards,

Ed Nicholas
Director, Parkes Energy Recovery