Environment and Planning Insights

07 April 2010

Welcome to the April edition of Environment and Planning Insights, in which we'll look at:

what could be in store for the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999
the latest in the reform process for Victoria's planning laws
major revisions to the environmental approvals process in Western Australia
the new national waste policy
Victoria's reforms to streamline the planning and environmental assessment and approvals process for major transport projects; and
how an accidental breach of the EPBC Act became a particularly costly error for one developer.

Major changes proposed to federal environmental laws by Hawke review

By Nick Thomas and Thomas Kwok.

Nick Thomas and Tom Kwok look at the key changes recommended by the Hawke review into the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.

Modernising Victoria's Planning Act: Draft Bill's proposed reforms

By Sallyanne Everett and Megan Schroor.

The various reforms proposed in the Planning and Environment Draft Bill have the potential to bring significant improvements to the regulation of land use planning and development in Victoria, say Sallyanne Everett and Megan Schroor, but much depends on their final form.

The environmental approvals process in Western Australia is about to get a makeover

By Brad Wylynko and Amanda Burt.

In Western Australia, exciting and potentially significant changes in the environmental approvals process are underway, as Brad Wylynko and Amanda Burt explain.

Less waste, more resources - Government moves to tackle growing waste mounds

By Claire Smith and Janice Lim.

The new national waste policy will affect almost every industry, so it's worth getting to grips with it. Claire Smith and Janice Lim discuss its key features and impacts.

Victoria's Major Transport Projects Facilitation Act - streamlining key approvals

By Sallyanne Everett and Hayley Jones.

Sallyanne Everett and Hayley Jones examine the key elements of the assessment and approvals process for declared projects under Victoria's Major Transport Projects Facilitation Act.

Accidental breach of section 77A notice leads to $40,000 fine

By Rachel Baird.

For the first time the Environment Minister has sought a penalty for the contravention of a Notice under section 77A of the EPBC Act. Dr Rachel Baird looks at what went wrong for the developer.

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