The New Black Biochar Pty Ltd, and Dovetail Timbers Pty Ltd, Sawmill and Pyrolysis Facility, Huonville

Current Stage

Public Comment Closed on Case for Assessment

Proposal Details

Client: The New Black Biochar Pty Ltd, and Dovetail Timbers Pty Ltd

Premises: Dovetail Timbers

Activity: chemical works and pyrolysis plant

Class of Assessment: 2A

Important Dates

Assessment Commenced: 12/3/2025

Case for Assessment Opened for Public Comment: 6/3/2026

Case for Assessment Closed for Public Comment: 23/3/2026

The Proposal

The proposal is for two activities; a sawmill and a pyrolysis facility. The land is owned by Dovetail Timbers Pty Ltd, who will operate the proposed sawmill, which has a production capacity of less than 1000 cubic metres per year. The sawmill operation will include milling, machining, kiln drying utilising waste heat from the biochar facility and the production of engineered wood product using glue lamination.

The New Black Biochar Pty Ltd are proposing to operate a pyrolysis facility to produce biochar on land leased from Dovetail Timbers. The production of biochar requires feedstock stockpiles (sawdust, green waste and clean construction and demolition waste), which will be chipped/shredded and screened on site, pyrolysis of the prepared feedstock and handling and storage of biochar. The two activities will share site access, stormwater infrastructure, feedstock (sawdust), site office and water.

The proponent has lodged a Permit Application with a supporting Environmental Effects Report (EER) to Huonvalley 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).

Notice of Intent

The New Black Biochar Pty Ltd, and Dovetail Timbers Pty Ltd, Sawmill and Pyrolysis Facility, Huonville - NOI (PDF 9Mb)

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.

The New Black Biochar Pty Ltd, and Dovetail Timbers Pty Ltd, Sawmill and Pyrolysis Facility, Huonville - EER Guidelines (PDF 411Kb)

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 consultation 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.

The New Black Biochar Pty Ltd, and Dovetail Timbers Pty Ltd, Sawmill and Pyrolysis Facility, Huonville - EER (PDF 2Mb)

The New Black Biochar Pty Ltd, and Dovetail Timbers Pty Ltd, Sawmill and Pyrolysis Facility, Huonville - Figure 6 Site plan overview (PDF 10Mb)

The New Black Biochar Pty Ltd, and Dovetail Timbers Pty Ltd, Sawmill and Pyrolysis Facility, Huonville - Figure 7 Sawmill production zone (PDF 3Mb)

The New Black Biochar Pty Ltd, and Dovetail Timbers Pty Ltd, Sawmill and Pyrolysis Facility, Huonville - Figure 8 Biochar production zone (PDF 3Mb)

The New Black Biochar Pty Ltd, and Dovetail Timbers Pty Ltd, Sawmill and Pyrolysis Facility, Huonville - Figure 9 Biochar equipment schematic (PDF 501Kb)

The New Black Biochar Pty Ltd, and Dovetail Timbers Pty Ltd, Sawmill and Pyrolysis Facility, Huonville - Figure 10 Pyrolysis process schematic (PDF 431Kb)

The New Black Biochar Pty Ltd, and Dovetail Timbers Pty Ltd, Sawmill and Pyrolysis Facility, Huonville - Figure 14 Potential air emissions sources (PDF 5Mb)

The New Black Biochar Pty Ltd, and Dovetail Timbers Pty Ltd, Sawmill and Pyrolysis Facility, Huonville - Appendix A Email HVC (PDF 136Kb)

The New Black Biochar Pty Ltd, and Dovetail Timbers Pty Ltd, Sawmill and Pyrolysis Facility, Huonville - Appendix B Civil Services Report (PDF 7Mb)

The New Black Biochar Pty Ltd, and Dovetail Timbers Pty Ltd, Sawmill and Pyrolysis Facility, Huonville - Appendix C Waste Water Treatment (PDF 8Mb)

The New Black Biochar Pty Ltd, and Dovetail Timbers Pty Ltd, Sawmill and Pyrolysis Facility, Huonville - Appendix D Noise assessment report (PDF 1Mb)