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Environment law and policy tracker

Highlights include court rulings in two states, plastics discussion papers, and EPA guidance on Victoria's new general environmental duty. Jobs include leader of a zero net carbon homes program, and a senior PFAS post.

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Senior Project Deliver Lead, Zero Net Carbon Homes ($107,119 - $117,293)

Sustainability Victoria's Business & Built Environment Group is hiring a Senior Project Delivery Lead for its pilot program to improve the supply of zero net carbon homes, and increase demand for them. The position will drive this pilot program to completion. Working in a coordinated way across Sustainability Victoria and in collaboration with the program builders and other stakeholders the role will:
  • identify, manage and lead technical aspects of program objectives;
  • work collaboratively with program builders, internal and external stakeholders to achieve the stated project outcomes;
  • manage all contracts associated with the pilot program;
  • plan and implement the program in a way that enables the program to be scaled easily; and
  • lead internal and external project delivery planning and reporting cycles, including budget and risk reporting.
Applications close on May 1.

Upcoming events:

  • EUAA national conference 2019 The May 1 and 2 national conference of the Energy Users Association of Australia, held in Melbourne.
  • Ozwater 19 A May 7 to 9 conference and expo in Melbourne, hosted by the Australian Water Association.
  • Carbon Market Institute 2019 summit A May 8 and 9 conference in Melbourne, hosted by the Carbon Market Institute.
  • Addressing the plastic recycling crisis A May 9 conference in Melbourne, hosted by the Australian Industrial Ecology Network.
  • Climate leader's forum A May 15 evening seminar in Sydney, hosted by South Pole, with speakers including Julien Gastaldi (Natural Carbon) and Belinda Whelan (Climate-KIC).
  • Large-scale solar forum 2019 A May 16 conference in Brisbane, hosted by the Clean Energy Council.
  • Why investors are worried about climate change A May 22 evening seminar, presented by the Sydney Environment Institute, with speakers including Minters' Sarah Barker and the IGCC's Emma Herd.
  • Climate change and business risk A May 22 to 23 short course in Melbourne, hosted by the Monash Sustainable Development Institute and ClimateWorks Australia.
  • International conference on sustainable development in the minerals industry A May 27 to 29 conference in Sydney, hosted by AusIMM.
  • Australian energy week A June 11 to 14 conference and exhibition in Melbourne.
  • Mined land rehabilitation A June 19 to 21 conference in Newcastle, hosted by CRCCARE.

National:

  • New ABS data shows full-time employment in the renewable energy sector has increased by 28% in FY18, with direct full-time employment estimated at 17,740 jobs. This is the highest level of employment in the sector since FY12.
  • The Clean Energy Regulator has released its latest market data on the Large-scale Renewable Energy Target, showing that 29 power stations with a combined capacity of 15MW were accredited in March.
  • The Emissions Reduction Advisory Committee has released the findings of its review of two ERF vegetation methods (see background here and see background here).
  • New resource: The ANU has released a new global atlas of potential sites for pumped-hydro projects.
  • Submissions are due by May 23 on the Australian Energy Market Commission's proposed new market for trading short-term forward contracts for electricity, which would help demand-response and renewables businesses better manage spot price risk.
  • Applications to earn carbon credits from new projects must be lodged by June 11 if they are to be used as the basis for bids into the next ERF auction (see background here).
  • Have your say!: Comments are due by May 7 to a review of the Emissions Reduction Fund land and sea transport method (see background here).
  • Have your say!: Comments are due by May 1 on a draft update to the national PFAS management plan (see background here).

Queensland:

  • The state government will contribute $3 million through its Building our Regions program towards a $6.9 million upgrade of the Cairns material recovery facility.
  • A state government pilot project will prepare strategies to help three Great Barrier Reef island communities reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to climate change (see background here).

NSW:

  • The state government is inviting tenders to provide a baseline assessment of potential climate change impacts on critical infrastructure, and asset owners level of knowledge.
  • Court ruling: In a class action ruling, the Court of Appeal has found that a council is liable for a fire that spread from a tip, destroying five homes, damaging four others, and killing livestock (see background here).
  • The EPA has fined Sydney Water $45,000 for inadequate clean-ups of sewage overflows that affected waterways in Pymble, Faulconbridge and Forestville.

ACT:

  • Have your say!: Comments are due by the end of July on a new discussion paper on single-use plastics (see background here).
  • Have your say!: The ACT is inviting comment by May 24 on a new strategy for native woodlands.

Victoria:

  • The concept of 'state of knowledge' will be important in understanding Victoria's new general environmental duty, says a new EPA bulletin.
  • New audits of the Porepunkah and Myrtleford landfills have identified several "intolerable risks" that must immediately be remedied by the Alpine Shire Council.
  • The EPA has granted works approval for Yumbah Aquaculture Ltd to construct a 1,000 tonne per annum abalone farm near Portland.
  • The EPA has invited comments on a works approval application by Advanced Composting Technologies of Australasia Pty Ltd for a composting facility in Bannockburn that would process up to 52,000 cubic metres of poultry manure, hatchery waste, grease trap waste and abattoir waste.
  • Yatpool Sun Farm Pty Ltd has applied for a licence to generate from its 81MW solar farm near Mildura, which has a power purchase agreement with Flow Power for 35% of all generated electricity.
  • The EPA will no longer offer the option of paper-based transport certificates for prescribed industrial waste with effect from July, the state government has announced (see background here).
  • A company linked to recycler SKM has become the third waste business in one Melbourne street to receive an EPA notice over its failure to safely stockpile material (see background here).
  • The Victorian Health and Human Services Building Authority has released its latest sustainability strategy progress report.
  • Have your say!: Comment closes May 17 on a draft timber harvesting statement of regulatory intent.
  • Have your say – last chance!: Comment closes April 23 on draft Mineral Industries Regulations
  • Have your say!: Comment closes May 30 on a draft action plan for the Ramsar-listed Barmah national park and forest.
  • Grant opportunity: Applications close May 31 for round two research, development and demonstration grants, which provide up to $200,000 for projects that can increase sales of recycled products.
  • Grant opportunity – last chance!: Applications close April 30 for resource recovery infrastructure grants, which will provide grants of up to $500,000 for major recycling projects.
  • Have your say – last chance!: The state government is seeking comment by April 23 on protecting Melbourne's strategic agricultural land.

Tasmania:

  • Court ruling: The Full Federal Court has rejected the Minister of Environment and Energy's interpretation of a key EPBC Act provision, but hasn't granted environmental activists the relief they sought, in a ruling related to a Tassal salmon farm (see background here).
  • Have your say – last chance!: Comments are due by April 26 to the state government's review of its moratorium on genetically-modified organisms, which is due to expire in November.

South Australia:

  • The University of South Australia has applied to the SA Essential Services Commission for approval to operate a 1.6MW solar PV system at its Mawson campus and a 279.3kW system at the City West campus.
  • The EPA has issued a revised code of practice for houseboat greywater systems.

Western Australia:

  • Have your say!: Comments are due by July 12 on a new discussion paper on single-use plastics (see background here).
  • Chevron has received works approval for stopgap flaring of vapours from its Gorgon LNG plant, but has acknowledged the procedure won't reduce mercury emissions(see background here).
  • Western Australia's Environment Minister Stephen Dawson has rejected an appeal by a Port Hedland community group, which had sought the imposition of tougher licence conditions on BHP's iron ore handling operations (see background here).
  • Have your say!: Comments are due by May 27 on draft approved methods for the mandatory reporting of waste and recycling data (see background here).
  • Have your say!: Comments are due by May 27 on the state government's review of salinity management.
  • Award opportunity – last chance! Applications close April 29 for the state government's Golden Gecko environmental awards for resource companies.

Northern Territory:

Jobs and appointments:

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