Environment law and policy tracker
Monday, 12 September 2016 12:54pm
Law and policy changes in all jurisdictions, and a round-up of jobs, grants, awards and seminars.
Upcoming events:
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Environmental management seminar
A September 14 seminar hosted by the Cement, Concrete and Aggregates Association.
- WA waste and recycle conference
A September 14 to 16 conference in Fremantle.
- International conference on emerging contaminants and micropollutants
A September 20 to 23 conference in Sydney.
- Stakeholder engagement
A September 22 seminar hosted by the Australian Centre for Corporate Social Responsibility.
- National Landcare conference
A September 22 and 23 conference in Melbourne.
- Introduction to corporate social responsibility
A September 27 seminar in Melbourne, hosted by the Australian Centre for Corporate Social Responsibility.
Life of mine 2016
A September 28 to 30 conference in Brisbane, hosted by AusIMM.
- Building the business case for energy efficiency projects
Backed by the Office of Environment and Heritage, the first pair of half-day workshops will be held in Sydney on September 29 and October 13, with the workshops also available on November 24 and December 8.
- Waste expo
An October 4 to 5 event in Melbourne.
- All-energy
An October 4 to 5 event in Melbourne.
For other events, including a conference in Sydney on managing asbestos contamination, see the extensive Footprint what's on listings.
National:
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The Australian Energy Market Commission is inviting submissions on its proposal to create a new type of electricity market participant to encourage "demand response", where consumers can choose to change their electricity consumption to avoid periods of high demand and high cost.
- Renewables agency ARENA has named 12 large-scale projects that will share $92 million in grant funding, with six of them located in Queensland (related article for subscribers only).
- Environment Minister Josh Frydenberg has ordered an investigation into claims that the controversial Shenhua coal mine would desecrate Aboriginal heritage areas (related article for subscribers only).
- The Clean Energy Regulator has released its 2016-2020 corporate plan.
- The Clean Energy Regulator has finalised new safeguard emissions baselines for 42 of Australia's largest emitters, including Engie's Hazelwood and Loy Yang B brown coal power plants (related article for subscribers only).
- The Department of Environment has released an updated guide to cost recovery arrangements for EPBC applications.
- Chemicals regulator NICNAS has released a new report on tattoo inks.
- A new report from the Australian Conservation Foundation and the Environmental Defenders Network concludes the EPBC Act conditions imposed on Adani's proposed Carmichael coal mine are inadequate.
- Comment closes on October 16 on NOPSEMA's proposed compliance strategy for the offshore oil and gas industry.
- Proponents of carbon offset projects have until midnight on October 4 to apply to register them, if they want to participate in the November 16-17 ERF auction.
- Comment closes October 14 on a paper from the Clean Energy Regulator on direct purchasing of abatement from large-scale projects, which would by-pass ERF auction processes (related article for subscribers only).
- National Pollutant Inventory reporters that report emissions on a financial year basis have until September 30 to submit their data.
- All NGER reporters must submit their emissions and energy reports by midnight, October 31.
- Applications close on October 9 for this year's Clean Energy Council developing women directors' scholarship.
NSW:
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Weston Aluminium is seeking development approval to install and operate a facility in Kurri Kurri that would treat up to 8,000 tonnes of medical and hazardous waste each year.
- The NSW Office of Environment and Heritage is offering subsidised energy efficiency workshops in Sydney over the next few months.
- The EPA is inviting Local Aboriginal Land Councils to apply for individual grants of up to $50,000 under the Aboriginal Land Clean-Up and Prevention Program (ALCUP) to help curb illegal dumping on Aboriginal land.
- The EPA has fined Unilever Australia $15,000 for polluting waters near its North Rocks facility, following a tip-off from a member of the public. The incident was caused by a broken stormwater pipe.
- Comment closes September 16 on draft documents on the assessment and approval of wind farms (related article for subscribers only).
- Comment closes September 21 on draft legislation and a regulatory discussion paper on its planned container deposit scheme (related article for subscribers only).
- Grant opportunity: The NSW Office of Environment and Heritage and the state's Local Government Association have invited councils to apply for funding under a new 'building resilience to climate change' grant round.
ACT:
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The Environment and Planning Directorate has invited applications for a share of sustainable agriculture grant funding totalling $150,000.
Victoria:
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The Essential Services Commission has amended rules on earning VEET energy efficiency certificates so that they can now be created through upgrades to lighting in open-air car parks (related article for subscribers only).
- Submissions close November 9 on a draft report of a statewide assessment of public land issued by the Victorian Environmental Assessment Council.
Tasmania:
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Federal Energy Minister Josh Frydenberg and Tasmania's Environment and Energy Minister Matthew Groom have appointed John Tamblyn, a former chair of the Australian Energy Market Commission, to complete the study into the merits of a second interconnector with the mainland.
South Australia:
Western Australia:
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The EPA has recommended that an extension of Toro Energy Ltd's proposed Wiluna Uranium Project, to mine two additional deposits, be approved with conditions.
- The Department of Mines and Petroleum has announced 10 finalists for the 2016 Golden Gecko environment awards.
Northern Territory:
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Chief Minister Michael Gunner has named Lauren Moss as the Territory's new Environment and Resources Minister.
The EPA has issued new advice warning that a general environmental duty contained in the Territory's pollution law obliges people to notify it of contaminated land (related article for subscribers only).
Jobs and appointments:
