Environmental Protection Reform Imminent - Now's the Time to Get Ahead

With enforcement of increased environmental protection responsibilities looming, the time to be proactive is now. The Andrews Labor Government's response to the independent Inquiry into the Environment Protection Authority heeds an explicit focus on issues relevant to the management of legacy  contamination and the intersection of brownfields with land use planning and development.

The landmark shift in the approach to preventing harm to the health of Victorians and our environment will see the implementation of new pollution prevention and legacy risk management reform coming to Victoria. The implementation of legislative changes to the Environment Protection Act 1970, to be introduced in late 2017 and 2018, will see a significant increase in the EPA's governance and enforcement measures to ensure compliance with new environmental standards designed to prevent contamination and target early interventions.

Changes are set to include adequate forward-planning by stakeholders to identify and protect buffer zones for both existing and future industries and other activities. These changes are especially important where the establishment and maintenance of buffers is critical to ensuring sensitive land uses are protected from activities that present health, safety and amenity risks. Defining and applying buffer distances must be achieved through evidence-based assessments, using guidance from the EPA and other industry experts where required.

HAZCON can assist you to be at the forefront in dealing with all aspects of site contamination from risk assessment and management, to mitigation strategies. Our consultants are well equipped to provide tailored site specific environmental services for contaminated land investigations and EPA assessment requirements, whilst ensuring full compliance with all Australian Standards, the relevant guidelines and the National Environmental Protection Measure (NEPM) 1999.

Contact us today to discuss any potential land contamination risks to which you may be exposed and let us provide you with the evidence and guidance to make a cost effective and informed decision to ensure compliance with your environmental and planning statutory obligations.