The SSDA (State Significant Development Application) scoping phase is the mandatory first step to the project approval process. During this phase, the developer submitted a scoping report to the NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (DPHI) to get Secretary's Environmental Assessment Requirements (SEARs). The SEARs dictated the exact technical studies required for the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).

As part of the SSDA, the developer prepares an EIS. It outlines information on the economic, environmental, and social impacts of the project. It also outlines how the project will minimise or eliminate these impacts. For this project, the developer and their consultants are preparing detailed traffic, visual and noise impact assessments plus many others as part of their EIS. 

A key part of preparing the EIS requires seeking feedback from the community. The developer has appointed HillPDA to do this work to ensure it is fair, objective and informative. HillPDA is explaining the project to the community, asking for feedback, and collating the feedback into an Engagement Report as part of the EIS. The EIS will inform the next stage of the project. 

When all the technical assessments of the EIS are complete, the developer will submit the SSDA to the Department. This is the formal lodgement. 

After formal lodgement of the SSDA, including the completed EIS and Engagement Report, DPHI will publicly exhibit the project for 28 days. At this point, the community can make formal submissions to DPHI on whether they support the project or if they have comments about the proposal.

After the public exhibition period, DPHI will review the proposal along with all public submissions and request the developer to respond to all submissions.

DPHI will then make their final assessment.