Update: The Minister for the Environment approved the referral in December 2008 and work on the refurbishment is now underway.

Old Parliament House sought comment on the Referral for the proposed South-East (House of Representatives) Wing Refurbishment for the purpose of accommodating the Australian Prime Ministers Centre.

The proposed refurbishment has been determined a ‘controlled action’ under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) on the basis that the action is likely to have significant impact on the following matters protected by the EPBC Act:

• National Heritage places (section 15B and 15C)
• Commonwealth land (section 26 and 27A)
• Commonwealth action (section 28)

Pursuant with S95B of the EPBC Act, information was be available from Tuesday 23 September until Thursday 16 October 2008 at Old Parliament House, on the Old Parliament House website and an information session was held at Old Parliament House on Thursday 2 October 2008.

In accordance with section 95 (B) (4) of the EPBC Act, Old Parliament House advises that no comments were received on the referral document which has been submitted to the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts for approval.

The referral documents can be downloaded here.