Environment law and policy tracker

Thursday, 31 October 2019 1:04pm

Highlights include statutory developments in NSW, Victoria, WA and Tasmania. Jobs include posts with KPMG, Big W, McConnell Dowell and Cardno.

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• Upcoming events
• Corporate developments, achievements and commitments
• International, national, state and territory round-up
• Jobs and appointments

Upcoming events:

• Environment Institute of Australia and New Zealand annual conference A November 4 to 6 conference in Adelaide.
• Looking ahead to COP25 A November 6 one-hour seminar in Melbourne, featuring the Carbon Market Institute's John Connor, IGCC's Erwin Jackson and Monash University's Chloe Munro.
• Superpower: Australia's low-carbon opportunity A November 11 presentation in Traralgon, by professor Ross Garnaut.
• Building resilience A November 19 conference in Melbourne, hosted by the Climate Alliance.
• Queensland energy forum A November 19 forum in Brisbane, hosted by the Energy Users Association of Australia.
• Launch of the ResponsibleSteel standard and certification scheme A December 1 to 3 forum in Wollongong.
• ANU energy update A December 2 conference in Canberra, hosted by the ANU Energy Change Institute and featuring speakers including AEMO chief executive Audrey Zibelman and chief scientist Dr Alan Finkel.
• Councils beyond gas forum A December 3 conference in Melbourne.
• Banksia sustainability awards A December 3 event in Sydney.

Corporate developments, achievements and commitments:

• Tilt Renewables today released its 2019 interim report to the ASX.
• Veolia and the University of the Sunshine Coast have jointly won a UN Environment Programme district energy climate award.
• Brickworks has released its latest sustainability report.
• AGL has signed a 15-year large-scale battery agreement with Maoeneng (see background here).
• Woolworths has become the first Australian retailer to join the 'Loop' reusable packaging scheme (see background here).
• Food company Mondelez and construction company Fulton Hogan are among the organisations that have joined a RMIT University-led renewable energy bulk-buy (see background here).
• Fortescue has announced a new 60MW solar farm will power daytime activities at its Chichester iron ore hub, supplemented by electricity from an Alinta gas-fired power station (see background here).

National:

• The Clean Energy Regulator has reminded large emitters and energy users that NGER data for FY19 must be filed by midnight tonight.
• Safeguard-covered entities must also submit their FY19 baseline applications by tonight, unless they have made arrangements that allow them to lodge their application any time up until 15 April 2020.
• Federal, state and territory environment ministers will meet in Adelaide next Friday (see background here).
• Now that the RET has been met, its large-scale certificates will increasingly help companies achieve their carbon emissions reduction goals, according to the Clean Energy Regulator (see background here).
• Environment Minister Sussan Ley has named the panel that will review the EPBC Act (see background here).
• Ley has also launched an independent review of the Sydney Harbour Federation Trust.
• The federal government will provide a $1 billion funding boost to the Clean Energy Finance Corporation, with funds earmarked for grid reliability projects (see background here).
• The federal government has fast-tracked an investigation into new carbon abatement strategies, which is canvassing changes to the treatment of large emitters (see background here).
• ARENA has awarded a $784,000 grant to Mirvac for a net zero energy housing estate in the Melbourne suburb of Altona North.
• The Great Barrier Reef Foundation has issued an invitation for tenders to obtain a share in up to $42 million available for projects in two catchments that will lead to improved water quality.
• The federal government has gazetted regulations to amend NGER requirements (see background here).
• The Clean Energy Regulator has gazetted changes to the regulatory instrument that prescribes requirements for NGER auditors (see background here).
• The Department of Environment and Energy has released a new edition of Cold Hard Facts, its manual on refrigeration and air-conditioning systems.
• Energy and Emissions Reduction Minister Angus Taylor has delivered a speech at the launch of a plan to cut emissions from the property sector.
• The federal government has gazetted the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (Jabiru Town Plan) Approval 2019.
• Have your say – last chance!: Comments are due by today on a review of five ERF energy efficiency methods (see background here).
• Have your say!: Submissions are due by November 21 to a Senate environment committee inquiry into a Greens-proposed product stewardship Bill that is focused on packaging and plastic (see background here).

Queensland:

• The amount of NSW waste being sent to Queensland has dropped markedly since the introduction of the Queensland waste levy (see background here).
• State-owned energy supply company Energex will trial the use of home energy management systems with 500 south-east Queensland households.
• The Department of Environment and Science has released a prosecution bulletin on a court decision imposing fines totalling $200,000 on the director of a company that stockpiled tyres.

NSW:

• Have your say!: The NSW government will permanently ban the application to land of organic material derived from mixed household waste and has invited comments on a compensation package (see background here).
• Statutory development: Planning Minister Rob Stokes has introduced a Bill that means assessments of new mining and gas projects will no longer consider downstream greenhouse gas emissions (see background here).
• Sydney City Council has announced a 10-year, $60 million deal for sufficient renewable energy to power all council properties (see background here).
• Court ruling: The Independent Planning Commission has refused consent for a wind farm, nine years after the proponent first applied for consent (see background here).
• Have your say!: The state government is inviting comments by November 8 on its proposed monitoring of coastal integrated forestry operations.
• Grant opportunity: Applications close November 21 for grants of up to $100,000 available to councils and not-for-profits for projects that donate food from business to people in need.
• Have your say – last chance!: The state government is seeking comments by November 3 on draft frameworks and strategies for its Saving our Species program.
• Have your say- last chance!: Comment closes November 6 on the environmental impact statement for the Snowy 2.0 main works.

Victoria:

• Statutory development: Parliament has passed the Renewable Energy (Jobs and Investment) Amendment Bill 2019 (Bill as passed and explanatory memorandum).
• State parliament's waste and recycling inquiry will hold another public hearing next Wednesday (see background here).
• The EPA has convened a community conference for November 6 on a proposed waste to energy plant in the Melbourne suburb of Laverton.
• Developers in outer Melbourne don't have to make EPBC referrals because the state government promised to establish large new conservation reserves as offsets, but it has failed to buy the land (see background here).
• The EPA will step in to lower the risk of fire at a Coolaroo (Melbourne) site operated by Glass Recovery Services after the company failed to respond adequately to EPA instructions.
• The state government has gazetted an order declaring the Bellarine Peninsula a "distinctive area and landscape".
• Have your say!: Comments are due by November 30 on a draft long-term water assessment for southern Victoria that will underpin the development of a new sustainable water strategy (see background here).
• Have your say – last chance!: Comment closes November 10 on the EPA's draft charter of consultation.
• Have your say- last chance!: Comment closes today on a regulations, standards and protocols that will support the state's new environmental law, due to take effect in mid-2020 (see background here).
• Have your say!: Comment closes November 8 on a state government options paper on water market transparency.

Tasmania:

• State parliament has passed a Bill extending the moratorium on GMO crops by 10 years.
• Have your say!: The Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment has released draft regulations on underground fuel storage tanks, with comment closing November 15.

South Australia:

• The EPA has advised residents near a former electroplating factory that it has discovered high levels of chromium in groundwater.
• Court ruling: The Environment, Resources and Development Court has delivered a further ruling on a site contamination dispute between Caltex and a local council, following an earlier decision in June (see background here).
• Have your say!: The state government has invited comment by 28 February next year on a draft practice direction for assessing contaminated sites.

Western Australia:

• Statutory development: The Department of Water and Environmental Regulation has released a discussion paper on proposed changes to the Environmental Protection Act, with comments due by January 28 (see background here).
• The state government has announced new appointments to the Cockburn Sound Management Council.
• Have your say!: Comment closes January 3 on draft guidance that describes the type of information on air emissions that should accompany applications for a works approval or environmental licence (see background here).
• Have your say!: Comment closes November 29 on a discussion paper about the state's proposed climate policy (see background here).

Northern Territory:

• Have your say!: Comment closes November 17 on a Territory government discussion paper on electric vehicles.
• Have your say!: The Territory government is inviting comment by November 8 on a draft wildlife management plan for the Magpie Goose.

Jobs and appointments:

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• Claire Ferres Miles has been appointed the new chief executive of Sustainability Victoria.
• The Paintback used paint stewardship scheme has appointed Lucia Cade as the new chair of its board.
• Retailer Big W is hiring a sustainability specialist, based in Sydney.
• KPMG has several vacancies in Melbourne – for a manager, environmental services, senior environmental services consultant, and environmental services consultant.
• Sustainability consultancy Pangolin Associates is hiring a Sydney-based carbon and energy consultant.
• Consultancy Edge Environment is seeking a Melbourne-based infrastructure sustainability consultant.
• AngloGold Ashanti is recruiting an environmental advisor for its Tropicana gold mine, FIFO from Perth or Kalgoorlie.
• The Australian Rail Track Corporation is hiring a Melbourne-based senior sustainability advisor to work on the inland rail program.
• Cardno is seeking a Melbourne-based senior sustainability consultant.
• The NSW EPA is hiring a unit head, illegal dumping ($158,886 package).
• The NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment is recruiting a director of energy operations to lead the delivery of energy programs (package starting at $197,600).
• The NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment is also hiring a senior legal officer (litigation) ($123,229) and a adaptation senior project officer ($140,563).
• McConnell Dowell is recruiting a Shepparton/Goulburn Valley-based sustainability advisor to work on stage 3 of the Echuca-Moama bridge.
• The Yarra Energy Foundation is seeking a commercial program manager to deliver decarbonisation projects in the City of Yarra.
• Environmental consultancy SLR is recruiting a Melbourne-based principal sustainability consultant.
• Kuringai Council is recruiting a building sustainability officer.
• Hornsby Shire Council is hiring a sustainability and corporate planning officer.

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