A NSW Government website
Lord Howe
ISLAND BOARD
NSW Government

Message from the Hon Penny Sharpe MLC 

NSW Minister for the Environment

I am pleased to announce public exhibition of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Lord Howe Island Critical Infrastructure Project. 

This marks an important milestone within the NSW Government program to deliver critical infrastructure to the Lord Howe Island community. The program includes a new marine freight service, modern waste management facility and enhanced biosecurity infrastructure to sustain Lord Howe Island over the next 40 years. 

These key infrastructure improvements will support the local community and tourism industry and safeguard the unique World Heritage values of the island and its marine park. 

I’m pleased to see a strong level of engagement with the community to date, and I really encourage you to review and comment on the EIS. Your feedback will be vital to developing effective and robust environmental controls. I also encourage you to speak with your elected representatives on the Lord Howe Island Board, as well as the Chair and Lord Howe Island CEO, if you wish to provide other feedback about the program. 

Lord Howe Island’s remarkable biodiversity makes it a rare ecological treasure that must be celebrated and conserved now and into the future. But we also have to ensure the infrastructure is fit for purpose and caters to the island’s residents.

I look forward to seeing improved services for the community, positive economic stimulus and strengthened protections for one of our State’s most precious natural assets.

 

Have Your Say – EIS

The EIS for the Lord Howe Island Critical Infrastructure Project is on public exhibition for community comment from Wednesday 15 October until Tuesday 11 November 2025.

Aspects of the program considered within this EIS comprise the construction, operation and maintenance of the following:

  • Freight handling facility, which includes new and upgraded marine infrastructure, fully bunded boat maintenance area, cargo loading/offloading areas, biosecurity infrastructure, adaptive reuse of the ‘Old Cargo Shed’ and ‘Ocean View’ heritage-listed buildings, viewing and picnic area, landscaping, amenities and vehicle and boat trailer parking.
  • Waste management facility upgrades.
  • Dedicated dog kennels to house detection dogs.
  • Upgraded boat ramp and self-service fuel bowser (these elements are subject to further funding).

The EIS provides information on the economic, environmental and social impacts of the project, including reports and assessments related to:

  • design of new buildings and infrastructure
  • terrestrial and marine biodiversity and climate change risks
  • soil, air, waste and water quality impacts
  • transport, traffic and noise impacts
  • social, heritage and economic impacts
  • contamination and flooding risks
  • protected and sensitive land.

The EIS supports the community to understand the benefits and the implications of the project for Lord Howe Island and make informed submissions.

Details are provided below on how to make a submission during the public exhibition period. Submissions are due by 11:59pm on Tuesday 11 November 2025.

Print copies of the EIS and appended Technical Reports are available at the Lord Howe Island Museum and Lord Howe Island Board Offices.

 

Community drop-in sessions

To support the public exhibition of the EIS, community drop-in sessions will be held at the Lord Howe Island Community Hall on Thursday 6 November from 10am to 12:30pm and from 2:00pm to 4:00pm. 

Key personnel from The APP Group (consultants designing the project) and the NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure will be in attendance. This will provide an opportunity for community members to ask questions and have discussions about key components of the EIS.

Anyone is welcome to attend the community drop-in sessions. If you have any questions or require more information, please email the project team at [email protected].

Community Consultation Group meeting

The next Lord Howe Island Community Consultation Group (CCG) meeting will be held at the Lord Howe Island community hall on Thursday 6 November from 5pm to 6pm.

This meeting has been aligned with the community drop-in sessions to ensure representatives from The APP Group and the NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure can attend the CCG meeting and answer questions.

 

Have your say

To have your say on the project, you must lodge a submission online through the NSW Planning Portal before the close of the exhibition period.

To do this, search for the project at https://www.planningportal.nsw.gov.au/major-projects/projects/lord-howe-island-critical-infrastructure-project and click on 'Make a submission'. You will need to log in or create a user account.

Resources to help you use the NSW Planning Portal are available at www.planningportal.nsw.gov.au/major-projects/help including a step-by-step guide on how to make a submission. If you require assistance, please contact the Department’s customer support team on 1300 305 695.

If you think you'll need help making a submission using the portal, it's a good idea to contact customer support sooner rather than later. Ensure you give yourself plenty of time to make a submission before the project’s exhibition period end date.

You cannot upload a submission on behalf of another person.

Before making your submission, you should read the Department’s:

When making a submission you will be required to include: