PERTH (miningweekly.com) – The Australian Capital Territory (ACT) has signed a new assessment bilateral agreement as part of the federal government’s pursuit to establish a one-stop shop for environmental assessments.

In December last year, Prime Minister Tony Abbot signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with all state governments, including ACT, to fast-track environmental approvals.

The new assessment bilateral agreement removes duplication and provides a single process for environmental assessments in the ACT, and replaces the previous agreement.

The new ACT agreement reduced the regulatory burden on business, met the requirements of the Territory and the Commonwealth government and maintained high environmental standards.

Federal Environment Minister Greg Hunt said the agreement accredited ACT environmental assessment processes, which met high environmental standards.

“Under this agreement, I will retain the power to approve or refuse actions and to attach conditions to approved actions.

“The next step in the 'one-stop-shop’ process for the ACT will be the accreditation of its environmental approval processes," Hunt said.

He pointed out that ACT-based projects that were already being assessed under the existing agreement would transition seamlessly across to the new agreement, which would also streamline the administrative relationship between the Australian government and the ACT.

ACT Minister for the Environment Simon Corbell said he was pleased with the signing of the new assessment bilateral agreement with the commonwealth government.

“The new agreement will help to streamline environmental assessments between the ACT and commonwealth. The new agreement also signals that the ACT is closer to securing a one-stop shop. Negotiations between the ACT and commonwealth are progressing well, and we expect to have a one-stop shop in place in 2014.”