Crown Lands has released a draft State Strategic Plan for managing and using Crown land in NSW for public comment. Read more

The Interim Report reflects strong views that the current regime is ineffective in protecting Australia’s environmental values and inefficient in delivering outcomes supported by business or the community. It proposes reforms with a strong focus on Ecologically Sustainable Development. Read more

The Cooperative Research Centre of Contamination Assessment and Remediation of the Environment, in consultation with the National Remediation Framework Steering Group, has released the National Remediation Framework. The Framework is intended for use by land owners and managers, government agencies and site contamination practitioners as a reference point for best practice methods and approaches to remediation. Read more

In response to industry feedback, the Queensland Government has included temporary amendments to the Environmental Protection Act 1994 (Qld) (EP Act) in their Justice and Other Legislation (COVID-19 Emergency Response) Amendment Bill 2020 (Response Bill), which was introduced on 19 May 2020. Read more

A community group of bushfire survivors has commenced proceedings in the NSW Land and Environment Court against the NSW Environment Protection Authority to encourage or compel the development of policies to address NSW’s greenhouse gas emissions. Read more

Government’s intent to reform the Environmental Protection Act 1986 (WA) has been formalised with the tabling of the Environmental Protection Amendment Bill 2020 (WA) on 16 April 2020. While framed as a modernisation of the Act, the substantive reform proposed in the Bill is modest in nature and not comparable to the wholesale reform elsewhere in Australia. However, a number of the amendments will see far greater clarity and real procedural efficiencies, particularly in the Part IV and Part V assessment and approval processes. Read more

Hydrogen is heating up with the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) offering $70m in a new funding round. Read more

The Victorian Government’s recent circular economy strategy outlines a bold plan to transform Victoria’s relationship with waste and recycling. The Recycling Victoria strategy represents a fundamental change of mindset and will require changed behaviours from industry and consumers. Businesses operating in this space should be aware of the investment opportunities presented by the changing waste landscape. Read more