Planning Act 2023

A relevant agency may recover from an applicant for an environmental significance opinion the direct and indirect costs incurred by the agency—

in deciding an application for the opinion; and

in preparing the opinion; and

in engaging a consultant to assist with deciding the application or preparing the opinion.

If the relevant agency has sent an invoice to the applicant for the costs recoverable under subsection (1), the agency must give a copy of the invoice to the territory planning authority.

Despite section 140 (4) and (5), the relevant agency may wait until the invoice has been paid by the applicant before giving the environmental significance opinion or giving notice under section 140 (5).