Environment law and policy tracker

Wednesday, 28 March 2018 1:24pm

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

Upcoming events
Federal, state and territory round-up
Jobs and appointments

Featured vacancy – Carbon Neutral 2030 Manager

Meat & Livestock Australia, which provides research, development and marketing services to Australian cattle, sheep and goat producers, has a 12-month vacancy for a Carbon Neutral 2030 (CN30) Manager.

Based in Sydney, the position will build on previous R&D activities and develop a CN30 Plan for the Australian red meat industry.

Key responsibilities of this role include reviewing existing research, development and adoption projects, as well as identifying and scoping new projects that will contribute to CN30.

The position will also develop business models to roll-out the CN30 Plan and establish linkages between CN30 and existing industry initiatives.

Applications close April 8. __________________________________________________________________________________ To find out about promoting a position in 'featured vacancies' contact murray@footprintnews.com.au.

Upcoming events:

International stewardship global forum An April 4 and 5 event in Sydney, hosted by the Global Product Stewardship Council.
Shareholder activism in Australia - investor and company perspectives An April 9 one-hour seminar in Melbourne, hosted by the Macquarie Applied Finance Centre, with speakers including Regnan head of policy, Alison George.
Innovation X-change on energy productivity An April 10 event in Sydney, hosted by the Australian Alliance for Energy Productivity.
Recycling crisis: Issues, impacts and solutions An April 10 seminar in Sydney, hosted by the Australian Sustainable Business Group.
Energy storage markets and opportunities An April 12 morning seminar in Sydney, hosted by the Clean Energy council.
Sustainable waste management in healthcare An April 18 conference in Bendigo (Victoria), hosted by LMWRRG.
Future of environmental law symposium An April 19 forum in Sydney, featuring NSW Land and Environment Court Chief Justice Brian Preston.
Mahla Pearlman Oration – advocacy lawyering, client responsibility and change agendas An April 19 address in Sydney, delivered by former High Court judge Robert French.
3rd Asia-Pacific rainforest summit An April 23 to 25 conference in Jakarta.
Combustible recyclable and waste materials guidelines workshop An April 26 morning workshop, hosted by EPA Victoria and DELWP.
ANMF health and environmental sustainability conference An April 27 conference in Melbourne.
Zero carbon minerals forum A May 1 forum in Adelaide, hosted by Adelaide University and with speakers from ARENA and the International Energy Agency.
Fifth Australian emissions reduction summit A May 1 and 2 conference in Melbourne, hosted by the Carbon Market Institute.
Climate adaptation 2018 A May 8 to 10 conference in Melbourne, hosted by the National Climate Change Adaptation Facility.
Waste 2018 A May 8 to 18 event in Coffs Harbour.
Commercial solar power purchase agreements A May 30 to 31 conference in Sydney, hosted by Informa.

For other events, see the Footprint what's on listings.

National:

The federal government has released a discussion paper for its review of the Product Stewardship Act 2011, which suggests the national computer and television recovery scheme could be expanded to other e-waste types (see background here).
Defence has issued a request for information on firefighting foams, as it explores alternatives to foams containing PFAS.
The Australian Energy Market Operator has provided advice to the federal government stating that AGL's Liddell power station replacement plan will only be adequate if it is implemented in full.
A Senate committee inquiry into the protection of Burrup Peninsula rock art has issued its report, with the Coalition, Labor and the Greens generally taking widely divergent views (see background here).
Transcript of a March 20 hearing of a Senate committee inquiry into climate change and security is now available.
The ACCC has asked the administrator of Australia's tyre stewardship scheme for more details on its performance, including efforts to involve mining companies and the monitoring of used tyre exports (see background here).
Labor and the Greens have failed to secure Senate support to disallow marine park marine park management plans gazetted by Environment and Energy Minister Josh Frydenberg, which the Opposition had described as a major rollback of proposed protections.
Submissions are due April 19 on the Productivity Commission's issues paper for its five-yearly assessment of the Murray-Darling Basin Plan, with submissions due April 19.
Comments are due April 13 on the Climate Change Authority's inquiry into the role of the National Wind Farm Commissioner (see background here).
Bill watch: A Senate inquiry into a government bill that would allow the Clean Energy Finance Corporation to support carbon capture and storage technologies is due to report May 8 (see background here).
Bill watch: A bill that would streamline reporting requirements under agricultural and veterinary chemicals laws is before the Senate.
Grant opportunity: Applications close May 31 for grants of up to $12,500 under the solar communities program
Comment closes March 30 on a discussion paper on proposed changes to the Safeguard Mechanism, which imposes greenhouse gas emission limits on more than 200 facilities that are very large emitters (see background here).

Queensland:

Comment is due by May 11 on draft planning guidelines for large-scale solar farms (see background here).
Bill watch: A parliamentary committee inquiry into the government's bill to control land clearing is due to report by April 23 (see background here).
Bill watch: A parliamentary committee inquiry into the Mineral and Energy Resources (Financial Provisioning) Bill is holding a public hearing today.

NSW:

The Biodiversity Conservation Trust is inviting expressions of interest from landowners in the Murray-Riverina and Northern Inland regions to receive payments for conserving biodiversity on their properties.
The Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal is consulting on its approach to setting benchmark tariffs for solar power exported to the grid.
The Office of Environment and Heritage is seeking expressions of interest for instrument suppliers to provide air quality particle monitors for a trial period, for testing and evaluation purposes for deployment in its air monitoring network.
Sydney Water has issued a tender for the provision of operation and maintenance services for its renewable energy portfolio.
Comment closes March 31 on a proposed new site remediation policy (see background here).

ACT:

Comment is due April 9 on a discussion paper on the ACT's strategy to reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions.

Victoria:

The state government will extend the East Gippsland, Central Highlands and North East Regional Forest Agreements (RFAs) until 2020, "to provide certainty" for the forestry industry and allow time to consult on modernisation of the RFA framework. The government will also provide state-wide protection for all large, old trees greater than two-and-a-half metres in diameter.
Award opportunity: Nominations are now open for the 2018 Premier's sustainability awards.
Comment is due April 6 on a consultation paper on proposed amendments to VEET energy efficiency scheme guidelines.
Comment closes June 19 on a draft statutory policy on water that will underpin decision-making about environmental conditions imposed on businesses, water utilities and farmers (see background here).
Bill watch: The Water and Catchment Legislation Amendment Bill is before the Legislative Council (see background here).
Bill watch: The Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Amendment Bill is before the Legislative Council.
Bill watch:The Planning and Environment Amendment (Public Land Contributions) Bill is before the Legislative Council.
Bill watch: The Marine and Coastal Bill is before the Legislative Assembly.
Grant opportunity: Sustainability Victoria is offering gas efficiency grants of up to $50,000, energy assessment grants ranging from $2,000 to $15,000, plus an implementation bonus, and materials efficiency of up to $13,000.
Grant opportunity: The state government has invited applications for small grants under its Biodiversity On-Ground Action initiative. Grants of between $5,000 and $50,000 are available and the community and volunteer category and funding of up to $50,000 is available under a crowdfunding initiative.

South Australia:

Incoming South Australian premier Steve Marshall has named Dan van Holst Pellekaan as Minister for Energy and Mining, while David Speirs is the state's new Minister for Environment and Water. Both previously held the portfolios on a shadow basis (see background here).
Copper Coast Council has issued a tender for solar PV systems for two wastewater treatment plants, with a capacity of 100kW to 150kW.
Grant opportunity: The state government is offering matched-funding grants of up to $100,000 to recycling businesses for activities that will strengthen local market demand for recycled materials and recycled-content products. Applications close May 31.

Western Australia:

The EPA has recommended approval for Kimberley Agriculture Investment's Carlton Plain irrigated agriculture proposal, which will extend over 3,055 hectares and is part of a three-staged development.
Comment closes June 8 on draft amendments to the state's controlled waste regulations that would impose new obligations on waste generators and tighten controls on the movement of asbestos (see background here).
Comment closes April 19 on a draft odour guideline for prescribed premises.

Jobs and appointments:

ClimateWorks Australia is recruiting a senior analyst, based in Melbourne.
Randwick City Council is seeking a sustainability projects and reporting officer ($87,460 - $94,015 + super).
TransGrid is hiring a environmental approvals manager, based in Sydney.
EPA Victoria is seeking a senior water policy officer ($93,867 - $103,719) to lead the review the urban stormwater environmental management guidelines.
EPA Victoria is also recruiting a senior applied scientist - landfill hazards ($93,867 - $113,572).
Victoria's Department of Health and Human Services is hiring a policy officer to join its environmental management team ($81,354 - $92,304).
Sustainability Victoria is looking for a policy coordination lead - energy to work within its business and built environment group ($93,867 - $113,572).
Victoria's Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning is seeking a project officer, threatened species and climate change ($81,354 - $92,304).
The NSW EPA's Hazardous Incidents & Environmental Health Branch is recruiting a manager strategic policy and programs ($173,2789 package).