“Rather than allow the Office of the Appeals Convenor to expeditiously deal with the appeals, the Minister for Environment Bill Marmion established a one-person appeals committee ... to consider the appeals and report to him,” Ms Farina said. “We now learn, after the report date, that the Minister, without informing the community and the proponent, has granted an extension to report on the appeals by no later than October 31 this year.

“This raises a number of serious questions. First, has the EPA been tardy in providing its advice on the appeals and if so, why? Second, why is the EPA providing its advice to the Minister and not directly to the appeals committee? – the EPA is supposed to be an independent agency, its advice should not be vetted by the Minister. Third, why did the Minister establish a one-person appeals committee rather than allow the Office of the Appeals Convenor to consider the appeals?”