Environment law and policy tracker

Monday, 16 February 2015 4:56pm

A CE Daily weekly snapshot for environmental and carbon professionals (open access).

Upcoming events:

Thermal waste to energy forum A February 26 conference in Melbourne hosted by the Clean Energy Council, with speakers including Paul McCartney of the Clean Energy Finance Corporation.
Going low carbon - the approach of the International Energy Policy Institute A February 27 evening seminar in Sydney delivered by the Institute's Stefaan Simons. Hosted by the Nuclear Engineering Panel of the Sydney Branch of Engineers Australia, the Australian Nuclear Association, the Royal Society of New South Wales, and the Australian Institute of Energy.
Environmental and planning law conference A March 11 conference in Melbourne hosted by Legalwise, featuring speakers including Professor Simon Molesworth, Ashurst partner Jeff Lynn, and King & Wood Mallesons partner Mark Beaufoy.
Cars of tomorrow A March 12 conference in Melbourne. Speakers include: John Boesel (CALSTART), Garry Connelly (FIA Institute for Motor Sport, Safety & Sustainability), Philip Gott (IHS Automotive), Professor Chris Ryan (University of Melbourne, Faculty of Architecture Building & Planning) and Tali Trigg (International Energy Agency).
Carbon leadership forum A March 13 seminar hosted by AEBN, featuring speakers including Chloe Munro (Clean Energy Regulator), Elisa de Wit (Norton Rose Fulbright) and Anthea Harris (Climate Change Authority).

For other events, including the Carbon Market Institute's 'emissions reduction summit', see the extensive CE Daily what's on listings.

International developments:

The leaders of the UK's three main political parties – Prime Minister David Cameron, Deputy PM Nick Clegg and Opposition Leader Ed Milliband – on Friday jointly pledged to end the use of coal for power generation in the absence of abatement technology, and to seek a global climate deal that limits warming to below 2°C.
UN talks in Geneva concluded on Friday with agreement on a draft negotiating text for the end-of-year Paris summit (see selected press reports here).
Commonwealth Bank-owned Colonial First State is one of the signatories to a new statement issued by investors on their expectations for 'green bond' disclosure, reporting and assurance.

National:

Parliament has passed the Environment Legislation Amendment Bill, which retrospectively ensures EPBC approval decisions and actions made up until the end of 2013 are valid, even if the Minister hadn't considered "approved conservation advice" ( a change prompted by the Federal Court 'Tarkine' ruling). The bill also strengthens protections against killing, injuring or trading in turtles and dugongs (See bill home page here and the CE Daily article Hunt cuts an EPBC deal).
Parliament has passed the Building Energy Efficiency Disclosure Amendment Bill, which streamlines the administration of the Commercial Building Disclosure program that obliges disclosure of information on the efficiency of large office buildings (See bill home page here).
The CRC CARE has issued new guidelines on managing sites with petroleum-based contamination (See source material here and the CE Daily article New five-step guide to cleaning up petroleum contamination).
The first Emissions Reduction Fund auction will be held on April 15 and 16 (See source material here and the CE Daily article Price spread a key test for inaugural ERF auction).
The Clean Energy Regulator has issued new guides to claiming and selling Australian Carbon Credit Units and Getting started in the ERF.
The Australian Academy of Science has issued a new update on the state of climate science.
The National Health and Medical Research Council has issued a statement concluding that "there is currently no consistent evidence that wind farms cause adverse health effects in humans".
The Australian Battery Recycling Initiative has failed to broker an industry agreement for a voluntary battery take-back scheme, and has asked Environment Minister Greg Hunt to introduce a scheme with regulatory backing (See the CE Daily article Battery take-back talks fall flat).
Applications close on March 17 for round three Green Army funding.
Applications close at 2pm on March 5 for Federal community heritage and icons grants of between $2,500 and $10,000, with a total of up to $337,000 available this financial year.

Queensland:

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has appointed Steven Miles as her Government's new Minister for Environment and Heritage Protection and Minister for National Parks and the Great Barrier Reef. Miles was an adviser to former State Labor Treasurer Andrew Fraser and has a PhD in political science. He also co-founded Reveille Strategy, which works with progressive organisations to "mobilise for campaigns and trumpet their message to the community". Mark Bailey will serve as Minister for Main Roads, Road Safety and Ports and Minister for Energy and Water Supply. Bailey was an adviser to several ministers in the Anna Bligh-led Labor Government and was a Brisbane City councillor from 1994 to 2003. His most recent position, prior to winning the seat of Yeerongpilly, was as state co-ordinator for 'Keep Queensland nuclear free'. New Deputy Premier Jackie Trad will serve as Minister for Transport and Minister for Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning, while Dr Anthony Lynham will serve as Minister for State Development and Minister for Natural Resources and Mines. The 'administrative arrangements' showing which laws and agencies the new ministers will administer are available here.
The Federal Department of Environment has issued a special hazardous waste export permit to Queensland-based CDS Recycling allowing it to export up to 1800 tonnes of crushed cathode ray tube glass to South Korea for recovery.
Environmental Justice Australia has written to the Director-General of the Department of Environment and Heritage Protection questioning what steps the department took to ensure that coal mining group Adani is a "suitable operator" to hold an environmental licence for its proposed Carmichael coal mine.

NSW:

Environment Minister Rob Stokes has announced the creation of the Glen Turner Scholarship, in honour of the Office of Environment and Heritage employee who was killed in July 2014. The new scholarship at the University of Newcastle will be awarded to a student in the field of natural resource management, which could include a bachelor degree in science, environmental science or a related field.
The NSW Government has announced it will allocate $13 million to rejuvenate the Broken Hill environmental lead program. Data from the NSW health blood lead program in 2012 showed that about 21% of all children in Broken Hill aged between one and four, and 37% of Aboriginal children, had blood lead levels above the NHMRC level of 10 micrograms per decilitre of blood.
The NSW Land and Environment Court has fined Mainfreight Distribution Pty Ltd $56,000 and ordered it to pay $32,500 in EPA costs for carrying a dangerous goods load that was not properly segregated, restrained or placarded. (See the decision here and the CE Daily article Dangerous goods blitz leads to $56,000 fine).
A NSW parliamentary inquiry has issued its report into the performance of the EPA (See the inquiry report and the CE Daily article Dangerous goods blitz leads to $56,000 fine).
The Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal has released a draft operating licence for Sydney Water for 2015-2020.

Victoria:

The Essential Services Commission, which regulates the Victorian Energy Efficiency Target program, is hosting a public forum on the scheme's future on Friday.
The Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources (DEDJTR) is inviting tenders by March 11 to participate in an expert panel on mine and quarry stability.
EPA Victoria has hosted a town meeting in Smeaton to discuss efforts by UniGrain Pty Ltd to deal with noise problems (See the CE Daily article EPA hosts community meeting on mill's noise problems).

Tasmania:

Environment Minister Matthew Groom has approved five projects to proceed to the second stage of the Government's Expressions of Interest process for tourism developments in National Parks and the World Heritage Area.
The Tasmanian Government has gazetted the Nature Conservation (Threatened Native Vegetation Communities) Order 2015, which extends to the Tasmanian mainland the threatened native vegetation community previously known as the coastal complex on King Island.
Comment closes on March 22 on the Tasmanian Government's draft revised Management Plan for the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area.

South Australia:

The South Australian Government has announced that former Governor of South Australia Kevin Scarce will head an inquiry into the role the State can potentially play in the fuel cycle for the use of nuclear energy. The Government will release draft terms of reference for the Royal Commission on February 23.
The EPA has completed a review of the Radiation Protection and Control (Ionising Radiation) Regulations 2000 and proposed amendments which would come into effect on September 1. It is holding a public information session on the findings on February 25.

Western Australia:

The WA Department of Environment Regulation is consulting until March 2 on its proposed guidance statement on setting conditions for licences and works approvals. Consultation on its draft guidance statement on land use planning closes on the same day.

Northern Territory:

The recent tumultuous political events in the Northern Territory have resulted in a Cabinet reshuffle, with Dave Tollner returning to the ministry as Treasurer and Minister for Mines and Energy. Chief Minister Adam Giles has also announced that former chief executive of the Department of Chief Minister, Gary Barnes, will take up the new post of Coordinator General of Major Projects.

Jobs and appointments:

The Energy Efficiency Council has named Tony Arnel as its new president. Arnel is global director of sustainability at leading engineering consultancy firm Norman Disney & Young. He is also a former chair of both the Green Building Council of Australia and of the World Green Building Council.
Gladstone Ports Corporation is seeking an environmental specialist, with applications closing on March 2.
WSP/Parsons Brinckerhoff is seeking an Adelaide-based principal environmental consultant.
Peabody Energy is seeking a Brisbane-based environmental advisor.
Silver Lake Resources is seeking an environmental field advisor, based in Kalgoorlie.
The Northern Territory's Power and Water Corporation is seeking an environment officer to provide advice on the provision of power, water and sewerage services. Applications close on March 1 and details are available from Mark Watson on (08) 8985 7134.