Current Stage
Assessment Completed
Proposal Details
Client: Liberty Bell Bay Pty Ltd
Premises: LBB Biochar Production Facility
Activity: Chemical works
Class of Assessment:
Important Dates
Assessment Commenced: 11/2/2025
Case for Assessment Opened for Public Comment: 29/11/2025
Case for Assessment Closed for Public Comment: 15/12/2025
Assessment Completed: 27/1/2026
The Proposal
Liberty GFG Bell Bay proposes to install a temporary pyrolysis plant to produce up to 500 tonnes of biochar material per annum. The facility is for temporary pilot scale production to prove the technical feasibility of replacing coking coal with biochar products.
The proponent has lodged a Permit Application with a supporting Environmental Effects Report (EER) to George Town Council.
The application was referred to the Board of the Environment Protection Authority (the Board) for assessment under the Environmental Management and Pollution Control Act 1994 (EMPCA).
Development Application
This proposal was referred directly by George Town Council to the Board of the EPA on 11 February 2025 as a development application (DA number 2024/117) and therefore a Notice Of Intent (NOI) was not required.
Environmental Effects Report Guidelines
EER Guidelines have been prepared by the Board to assist the proponent to prepare a case for assessment. Based on the information contained in the Notice of Intent, the guidelines identify the key issues which are expected to be relevant to the assessment of the proposal.
Liberty Bell Bay Pty Ltd, LBB Biochar Production Facility, Bell Bay - EER Guidelines (PDF 356Kb)
Public Exhibition of Documentation
A copy of the permit application and all plans and other documentation submitted with the permit application (including the EER) were made available for public inspection. The public consulation period has now closed.
Environmental Effects Report
The purpose of the EER is to provide a source of information upon which interested individuals, groups, government agencies and the Board may consider the environmental impacts of the proposal.
The EER was prepared by the proponent on the basis of the Project Specific Guidelines for preparation of an EER which were provided by the Board.
Liberty Bell Bay Pty Ltd, LBB Biochar Production Facility, Bell Bay - EER (PDF 13Mb)
Environmental Assessment Report and EPA Decision
The environmental assessment report (EAR) has now been completed and can be viewed below. The report contains the permit conditions required by the Board to be included in the land use permit, if a permit is granted, by Council.
Liberty Bell Bay Pty Ltd LBB Biochar Production Facility, Bell Bay - EAR (PDF 3Mb)