Environment law and policy tracker

Thursday, 02 February 2017 10:37am

Law and policy changes in all jurisdictions, and a round-up of jobs, grants, awards and seminars.

Featured vacancies
Upcoming events
Federal round-up
Jobs and appointments

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Featured vacancy:

Sustainability Victoria is seeking a director, business and built environment and a director, communities and climate change, with salaries ranging from $175,000 to $226,901.

Upcoming events:

World Renewable Energy Congress A February 5 to 9 conference in Perth.
Low carbon commercial property developments and green finance A February 7 webinar chaired by the Climate Bonds Initiative.
The road to an expert CSR report – GRI-certified training A February 13 and 14 seminar in Melbourne, hosted by ACCSR.
Pollution Incident Response Management Plans (PIRMP) and emergency response A February 16 conference in Sydney, hosted by the Australian Sustainable Business Group.
Directors' duties and climate change A February 16 seminar in Melbourne, hosted by the Future Business Council and chaired by Alan Kohler.
Moving from GRI guidelines to standards A February 16 seminar in Melbourne, hosted by ACCSR.
Improving residential energy efficiency A February 16 to 17 conference in Wollongong.
Energy storage leadership: Market assessment and opportunities A February 23 seminar in Melbourne, hosted by the Clean Energy Council.
PFAS workshop A February 23 seminar in Sydney, hosted by the National Measurement Institute, with video links available in Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth.
Environment and carbon laws and funding A February 24 seminar in Melbourne, hosted by the Australian Environment Business Network.
Community energy congress A February 27 to 28 conference in Melbourne.
Green cities conference A March 6 to 8 conference in Sydney.

For other events, including a seminar in Sydney on the challenges of a transitioning energy sector, see the Footprint what's on listings.

National:

NOPSEMA, the offshore oil and gas industry regulator, has developed new guidance on well integrity control measures and performance standards.
Treasurer Scott Morrison has released a new discussion paper on social impact investing.
ARENA and the CEFC will cooperate on a new funding round for large-scale energy storage demonstration projects, which will involve at least $20 million of ARENA funding and additional CEFC support (related article for subscribers only).
A tribunal has ruled that a power station linked to Fortescue's Pilbara iron ore operations has a RET liability, but not for the reasons initially put forward by the Clean Energy Regulator (related article for subscribers only).
Comment closes February 10 on the draft national carbon neutral standards for buildings and precincts (related article for subscribers only).
Submissions are due by February 21 on the interim findings of the Finkel review into energy security (related article for subscribers only).
Comment closes February 24 on a Regulation Impact Statement on lighting standards (related article for subscribers only).

Queensland:

The state government has invited expressions of interest to supply about 1.2TWh of electricity a year to government-owned entities, and says renewables expertise will be a factor in its decision-making.
The state government has gazetted a regulation that gives statutory force to a guideline on its 'chain of responsibility' pollution law (related article for subscribers only).
Comment closes February 27 on the state government's discussion paper on banning plastic shopping bags.
Comment closes April 17 on the state government's draft water plan for the Great Artesian Basin.

NSW:

The Audit Office has released a report on the Planning Assessment Commission.
Gabrielle Upton is the state's new Environment Minister, Anthony Roberts now has the planning portfolio and Don Harwin is Minister for Resources, Energy and Utilities.
The Office of Environment and Heritage has issued an invitation to tender to develop and deliver the biodiversity assessment method and accreditation training program.
The Land and Environment Court has rejected arguments by Sutherland Shire Council that a company built a bund around a quarry so it could illegally dispose of more than 200,000 tonnes of waste (related article for subscribers only).
Comment closes March 3 on a proposal for a whole-of-government koala strategy.
Grant opportunity: The EPA is offering grants of between $100,000 and $1 million under its Resource Recovery Facility Expansion and Enhancement program, with applications due by February 9.

ACT:

ACT businesses can now receive free or heavily subsidised upgrades to LED lighting.

Victoria:

The state government has released a climate change framework that sets an interim 2020 emissions target of between 15% and 20% below 2005 levels (related article for subscribers only).
The Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning is seeking comment by February 10 on a draft Port Phillip Bay environmental management plan.
Comment closes March 13 on a discussion paper issued as part of a review of the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988.
The administrator of the VEET energy efficiency scheme has released a revised information note on creating certificates.
EPA Victoria is conducting a desktop assessment of potential contamination at shooting ranges, triggered by the temporary closure of one range due to high lead levels (related article for subscribers only).
The Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources has released a new statement of reasons to require further rehabilitation bonds from the Latrobe Valley coal mines, with further bond increases possible.
EPA Victoria appears to have averted a High Court clash with ResourceCo over waste transport, or at least bought time for the development of a national approach (related article for subscribers only).
Grant opportunity: The state government has invited round-two applications from community groups and industry for funding under its New Energy Jobs Fund, with applications closing March 1.
EPA Victoria has released a revised authorised officer complaints management policy.

Tasmania:

The EPA has tightened limits on the volume of salmon that can be farmed in Macquarie Harbour, initially for the period from February 14 to April 30.

South Australia:

The state government has released a report into the emergency management response to last year's extreme weather event that lasted from September 28 to October 5.
Tenders close February 14 for the supply and installation of solar PV systems for the Solar Savers Adelaide Program.
The EPA has released a new public litter reporting App and website, making it easier to report littering from vehicles.

Western Australia:

Bunbury Magistrates Court has fined solar company Puresol, formerly trading as Mysol, $20,000 and has fined its director Daniel Leverett $10,000 for making false claims in breach of the Australian Consumer Law.
The state government has gazetted a new state planning policy for the Jandakot groundwater protection area.

Jobs and appointments:

Queensland's Department of Environment and Heritage Protection is seeking an executive director for its conservation and sustainability services division ($153,990 to $168,266).
The NSW EPA is seeking a director of contaminated land management (remuneration package $196,000 to $219,000).
The NT Department of Environmental Resources is seeking an environmental officer to assist in administering waste and pollution legislation (package of $111,409 to $124,576, including salary of $96,545 to $108,126).
Tasmania's Department of Primary Industries, Water and Environment is seeking a environmental officer, assessments ($87,955 to $99,599).
AECOM is seeking a Melbourne-based sustainability team leader.
IPA is recruiting on behalf of a large NSW government agency for a Sydney-based environmental scientist.
Meinhardt is seeking a Melbourne-based senior environmental engineer/scientist – waste management.
Fulton Hogan is seeking a Brisbane-based environmental advisor.
Consultancy LBWEP is seeking an Adelaide-based site contamination environmental consultant.
The University of Canberra is seeking a sustainability officer.
Zenergy Recruitment is seeking a Sydney-based environment and sustainability coordinator on behalf of a "leading supplier of high-value civil contracting, demolition, waste handling, environmental remediation and contract management services".
The NSW Public Interest and Advocacy Centre is seeking a Sydney-based energy and water policy team leader.
Future Super is offering an eight-week, paid Canberra-based content marketing internship.