Victorian Environmental Assessment Council
The Victorian Environmental Assessment Council (VEAC)
The Victorian Environmental Assessment Council (VEAC)
The Victorian Environmental Assessment Council (VEAC) was established under the Victorian Environmental Assessment Council Act 2001. The Council is appointed by the Governor in Council on the recommendation of the Minister for Environment and Climate Change.
The role of the Council is to conduct investigations as requested by the Minister for Environment and Climate Change, relating to the protection and ecologically sustainable management of the environment and natural resources of public land.
The Department of Sustainability and Environment advertises the proposed terms of reference for new investigations for public comment. The terms of reference are then reviewed in the light of any comments received before the Minister provides a new reference to VEAC.
More information about VEAC and its publications, and details of current and previous VEAC investigations, are available on the VEAC website.
Current investigations
VEAC is currently undertaking three investigations: the Marine and Yellingbo investigations, and an investigation into additional prospecting areas in parks.
Investigation into additional prospecting areas in parks
Marine Investigation
The Minister for Environment and Climate Change has requested VEAC investigate the outcomes of the establishment of Victoria’s existing marine protected areas.
The final terms of reference for the investigation were determined following a public consultation process during August 2011. The statement specifying how comments received on the terms of reference were dealt with was tabled in Parliament on 11 October 2011.
Statement of response to submissions on Marine Terms of Reference
[PDF File - 58.5 KB]
Terms of Reference for the Marine Investigation
[PDF File - 42.3 KB]
Details about the investigation are available on the VEAC website.
Yellingbo Investigation
The Minister for Environment and Climate Change has requested VEAC investigate public land in the vicinity of Yellingbo Conservation Reserve.
The final terms of reference for the investigation were determined following a public consultation process during July 2011. The statement specifying how comments received on the terms of reference were dealt with was tabled in Parliament on 18 August 2011.
Statement of response to submissions on Yellingbo Terms of Reference
[PDF File - 54.2 KB]
Terms of Reference for the Yellingbo Investigation
[PDF File - 42.8 KB]
Map of Yellingbo Investigation Area
[PDF File - 669.4 KB]
Details about the investigation are available on the VEAC website.
Investigation into Additional Prospecting Areas in Parks
The Minister for Environment and Climate Change has requested VEAC investigate providing access to eight additional National Parks and one State Park for recreational prospecting.
The final terms of reference for the investigation were determined following a public consultation process during August and September 2012. The statement specifying how comments received on the proposed terms of reference were dealt with was tabled in Parliament on 25 October 2012.
Statement of response to submissions on the proposed terms of reference [MS Word Document - 
43.5 KB]
The attached map displays the parks that VEAC has been requested to consider in the investigation.
Map of proposed additional prospecting areas in parks [PDF File - 4.0 MB]
Details about the investigation are available on the VEAC website.
Completed investigations
Two more recent investigations completed by VEAC are the Metropolitan Melbourne Investigation and the Remnant Native Vegetation Investigation.
Once VEAC has completed investigations the final report is submitted to the Minister for Environment and Climate Change. The Government is then required to respond to the report within approximately six months, specifying the action proposed to be taken with respect to each recommendation.
The final reports by VEAC and details on these and other completed investigations are available on the VEAC website: www.veac.vic.gov.au.
The Metropolitan Melbourne Investigation
The Remnant Native Vegetation Investigation
Victorian Government response to the Metropolitan Melbourne Investigation
The Victorian Government Response to the VEAC Metropolitan Melbourne Investigation was released in March 2012.
Victorian Government Response to the Metropolitan Melbourne Investigation 
[PDF File - 4.7 MB]
Victorian Government Response to the Metropolitan Melbourne Investigation (accessible version) 
[MS Word Document - 5.0 MB]
VEAC submitted the final report for the investigation to the Minister on 1 August 2011 and it was released publicly on 8 August 2011. VEAC's report and other details about the investigation are available from the VEAC website.
The final report by VEAC marked the completion of VEAC's role in the investigation.
Victorian Government Response to the Remnant Native Vegetation Investigation
The Victorian Government Response to the VEAC Remnant Native Vegetation Investigation was released in November 2011.
Victorian Government Response to the Remnant Native Vegetation Investigation [PDF File - 395.9 KB]
VEAC submitted the final report for the investigation to the Minister on 31 March 2011 and it was released publicly on 7 April 2011. The VEAC report and other details about the investigation are available from the VEAC website.
The final report by VEAC marked the completion of VEAC's role in the investigation.