State Government of Victoria

Environment Protection Authority

Licences and approvals

Princetown Resort Development works approval


Environment Protection Authority (EPA) Victoria received a works approval application from Montarosa P/L on 4 October 2016, to construct a sewage treatment plant at the proposed eco-tourism facility at 79 Old Coach Road, Princetown.

During the public consultation period between October and November 2016, EPA received more than 150 submissions. EPA identified a number of specific environmental issues and sent a notice requesting further information to the applicant (under section 22 of the Environment Protection Act 1970) on 29th November 2016.

On 2 November 2018, the company formally wrote to EPA requesting to withdraw their works approval application for the sewage treatment plant. Instead of treating sewage on site they now propose to tanker waste to a licensed sewage treatment plant. The new proposal is not scheduled under the Environment Protection (Scheduled Premises) Regulations 2017 and does not require works approval. EPA accepted Montarosa’s withdrawal on 9 November 2018.

Q and A Princetown + Expand all Collapse all

  • What is EPA’s role, if any, in this development now?

    The Environment Protection Act 1970 and subordinate policies and regulations specify the role, power and responsibilities of the EPA. 

    In the case of this development EPA no longer has a statutory approval role. In future, EPA can check environmental compliance should any environmental pollution issue arise.
  • Who is responsible authority for this development now?

    The responsible authority is Corangamite Shire Council.
  • Who decides if an EPA works approval is required?

    S19A of the Environment Protection Act 1970 requires a scheduled premises to apply a works approval prior to construction and operation of the facility.

    The Environment Protection (Scheduled Premises) Regulations 2017 specifies what scheduled premises are. 

    A wastewater treatment plant with a design capacity of more than 5000 litres/day is a scheduled premises, whereas a wastewater storage facility of any capacity is not a scheduled premises. Storage of waste water generated on site and tankered away does not require a works approval.
  • Does the section 22, issued by EPA on 29th November 2016, still apply?

    The revised design of the facility is to tank away wastewater generated on-site to a sewerage treatment plant instead of treatment on-site. As this activity no longer falls under the remit of a scheduled premises, a works approval is no longer required. Therefore the s22 notice issued is no longer applicable.

Page last updated on 22 Nov 2018