Consultation open on draft EPBC Act information and survey guidelines for Little Penguin

Little Penguin by Claire Greenwell

New draft information and best practice survey guidelines have been developed for the Little Penguin under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act). These document outline how to identify and manage potential impacts on little penguins associated with offshore wind farm proposals.

Based on a comprehensive literature review into Little Penguin behaviour and ecology, the document documents provide:

• important habitat areas

• mitigation and avoidance measures

• impact assessment considerations.

The work aims to:

• provide clear expectations to help proponents and ecological consultants prepare assessment information.

• enable efficient and robust assessment by regulators.

The Department of Climate, Change, Energy, Environment and Water (DCCEEW) is seeking feedback on these documents with consultation open until 5pm, Wednesday, 24 June 2026. Feedback received during the consultation period will be considered when finalising the documents.

To have your say:

• read the consultation documents

• complete a survey or upload a submission.

Consultation documents

Draft EPBC Act information

• Draft EPBC Act information for the Little penguin [PDF 1.4MB ]

• Draft EPBC Act information for the Little penguin [DOCX 2.8MB]

Draft survey guidelines

• Draft national survey guidelines for the Little penguin [PDF 1.6MB]

• Draft national survey guidelines for the Little penguin [DOCX 1.6MB]

Supporting documents

• Review of potential impacts on Little penguins from offshore wind farms [PDF 2.7MB]

• Review of potential impacts on Little penguins from offshore wind farms [DOCX 6MB]

Take the Survey

https://consult.dcceew.gov.au/draft-epbc-act-information-and-survey-guidelines-for-little-penguins/survey

For more information on the DCCEEW RERI, visit: https://www.dcceew.gov.au/environment/epbc/advice/renewable-energy-projects/reri