Approval for Snowy 2.0 Exploratory Works was granted by the NSW Government in February 2019.
The approval followed a rigorous planning and environmental planning assessment process.
Snowy Hydro committed to providing $10.5 million in offsets for any impacts associated with the Exploratory Works.
Activities approved as part of Exploratory Works included building new site access roads and upgrading other roads and tracks.
It also covered excavation of an exploratory tunnel down to the site of the underground power station cavern, establishment of a site compound and other site works.