Environment law and policy tracker

Monday, 16 May 2016 3:51pm

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Law and policy changes in all jurisdictions, and a roundup of the latest jobs, grants and seminars. A Footprint weekly snapshot for environmental and carbon professionals.

Upcoming events
Jurisdictional round-up (national, states and territories)
Jobs and appointments

** Featured vacancy ** The Environment and Climate Change Group in Victoria's Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning has a 12-month vacancy for a director, reporting to the executive director.

Upcoming events:

Safeguard mechanism workshops Half-day seminars hosted by the Clean Energy Regulator in Perth (May 19) and Brisbane (May 26).
Commercial-scale renewables systems and the RET A May 23 webinar by the Clean Energy Regulator for those interested in commercial-scale solar PV systems detailing how they can best benefit from the Renewable Energy Target scheme.
Inclusive business forum 2016 A May 24 conference in Melbourne, hosted by EY, Business for Development and Business Call To Action, on commercially-viable inclusive business models that provide solutions to the problems of the world's poor.
Environmental protection licences workshop A May 25 workshop in Sydney, hosted by the Australian Sustainable Business Group, in conjunction with Henry, Davis, York.
Accessing and managing sensitive ecological data A May 25 evening seminar in Canberra, hosted by EIANZ.
Protecting the environment privately: An evening with Professor Jeff Bennett A May 26 evening seminar in Brisbane on the role of the private sector in conservation, hosted by EIANZ.
WA 'Best of Ozwater' A May 25 evening seminar in Perth, covering the top themes of the recent Ozwater conference in Melbourne.
How to prepare a best-practice sustainability report A May 25 and 26 course in Brisbane, delivered by the Australian Centre for Corporate Social Responsibility.
Environmental assessment basics A May 30 one-day course in Brisbane, hosted by EIANZ.
The Australian energy storage conference A June 1 and 2 conference in Melbourne, featuring local and international speakers.
Renewable cities forum A June 1 and 2 conference in Sydney.

For other events, including a workshop in Melbourne on the treatment of wastewater and biosolids, see the extensive Footprint what's on listings.

National:

The ACCC has reauthorised Refrigerant Reclaim Australia to operate its scheme for the recovery of ozone-depleting and synthetic greenhouse gases.
Comment closes on June 10 on the third consultation paper on proposed changes to industrial chemical assessment procedures administered by NICNAS.
Renewables agency ARENA is establishing lifecycle assessment guidelines for bioenergy projects and is seeking comment on a draft LCA methodology.
Ahead of the federal election, the Department of Environment has issued a new information sheet on the Government's action on climate change and another on its plan for a cleaner environment.
NOPSEMA, the agency that regulates the offshore oil and gas industry has rejected an environment plan submitted by Chevron for its massive Wheatstone LNG project (see background).
The National Transport Commission has released a discussion paper on driverless vehicles.
The UN Association of Australia has announced finalists for its 2016 Environment Day awards.

Queensland:

Parliament has passed a suite of planning bills that will commence next year.
Parliament's Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources Committee has released its report on the Mineral and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2016, which would reinstate notification and objection rights to proposed mining projects.
Parliament's Transportation and Utilities Committee has released its report on the Public Health (Water Risk Management) Amendment Bill 2016, which would impose new requirements to prevent legionnaire's disease on certain types of healthcare facilities.
The State Government has passed with amendments the Nature Conservation and Other Legislation Amendment Bill, which reinstates legislative provisions dealing with national parks that were repealed by the former Newman Government.
The State Government has sought views on setting a state emissions reduction target in a new discussion paper that warns the state's emissions are on "a dangerous upwards trajectory".
The State Government has released the findings of an independent review of the environmental assessment evaluation process for the New Acland coal mine expansion and the Coordinator-General's response.
The Queensland Opposition has appointed Christian Rowan as its new shadow environment minister, following the ouster of former LNP leader Lawrence Springborg and the appointment of new leader Tim Nicholls.

NSW:

The Legislative Council has passed a bill that requires local councils to prepare management plans that take account of the effects of climate change and the bill will now go to the Legislative Assembly (see background).
Comments on the draft Biodiversity Conservation Bill are due by June 28.
The Department of Planning has released an Anglo American submission that argues the company's Drayton South coal mine expansion should proceed as there were significant errors in a Planning Assessment Commission finding that it should not go ahead (see background).
Grant opportunity: The NSW Government is inviting grant applications for new rounds under two waste schemes, with applications closing on June 27. The resource recovery facility expansion and enhancement program offers grants of between $100,000 and $1 million, while the innovation in priority problem wastes program offers grants of up to $1 million for infrastructure projects and up to $200,000 for R&D projects.
Grant opportunity: The Environmental Trust has also opened round four of the Love Food, Hate Waste Grants Program, with applications due by June 14.

Victoria:

A review of EPA Victoria has recommended two new environmental Acts, a new general duty to minimise harm from pollution and waste, and a tougher approach to enforcement (see background).
The State Government has extended the sunsetting date for the Environment Protection (Ships' Ballast Water) Regulations 2006 by 12 months, to May 29 next year.

Tasmania:

Comment closes on June 30 on a draft feral and domestic cat management plan issued by the Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment.

South Australia:

The State Government has sent letters to 25,000 randomly-selected citizens inviting them to apply to join a citizens' jury to consider the findings of the Nuclear Fuel Cycle Royal Commission (see background).
The EPA has released a report on 150 properties in the Beverley area potentially affected by TCE contamination, which concludes 149 have very low predicted concentrations that do not require intervention.
Grant opportunity: The EPA is inviting applications for grants to establish 'rain gardens' that utilise stormwater. Applications close on June 30.

Western Australia:

The Legislative Council's legislation committee has released the report of its inquiry into the Government's Mining Legislation Amendment Bill 2015, which would overhaul rules on land clearing and environmental performance that apply to mining companies.
Comment closes on June 6 on a Department of Environment Regulation draft guideline describing how companies should predict and assess noise emissions when seeking a works approval or licence (see background).
Environment Minister Albert Jacob has announced grants totalling $128,000 to 17 community groups for waste management projects.
Grant opportunity: Environment Minister Albert Jacob has invited funding applications to subsidise purchasing decisions that boost recycling rates for construction and demolition waste (see background).

Northern Territory:

The NT Government will provide $75,000 from its Mining Rehabilitation Fund as a grant to the Extractive Industry Association to provide technical advice to its members. "The Mining Remediation Fund and these grants to improve environmental standards in the extractive industry are a proud initiative of the Country Liberals Government," said Mines and Energy Minister David Tollner.
Grant opportunity: The EPA has invited applications for its 2016-17 environment grants program.

Jobs and appointments:

The City of Sydney is seeking a sustainability engagement coordinator.
Officeworks is seeking a Melbourne-based sustainability coordinator, reporting to its national sustainability manager.
Boeing Defence is seeking an EHS advisor for its facility at RAAF base Williamtown (NSW).
Constructability is recruiting on behalf of a major civil contractor for a Sydney-based environmental coordinator/advisor.
Capstone is recruiting on behalf of a company with a significant property portfolio for a Sydney-based environmental specialist to work on environmental assessments in preparation for remediation, demolition and disposals.
The Queensland Government is advertising the position of assistant Coordinator-General, a role that will lead the assessment of major projects.
Victoria's Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning is seeking a director of environment protection and resource recovery.
The ACT Environment and Planning Directorate has a 12-month vacancy for a project officer for its carbon neutral government program.
Tasmania's environment department (DPIWE) is seeking a section head, industrial operations.
Regis Resources is seeking a Kalgoorlie-based graduate environmental officer.