A draft Construction Noise Guideline has been released by the NSW Environment Protection Authority for public consultation. Private and public construction proponents, contractors, engineers and other stakeholders are encouraged to make a submission on the draft guideline by 30 April 2021. Read more

The High Court has upheld an appeal against New Acland Coal’s applications to extend the New Acland open-cut coal mine. The applications must now be determined afresh as a result of apprehended bias in the Land Court of Queensland. Read more

A number of provisions of the Environmental Protection Amendment Act 2020 (WA) came into operation on 3 February 2021, following proclamation on 2 February 2021. We briefly touch on some of the noteworthy changes. Read more

Professor Graeme Samuels has released the Final Report on the Independent Review of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cth) (EPBC Act), finding that Australia’s ‘current environmental trajectory is unsustainable’ and that the ‘EPBC Act is ineffective’. The Final Report proposes wide-ranging reforms, including the introduction of legally enforceable National Environmental Standards (NES), … Read more

The Industrial Chemicals Environmental Management (Register) Bill 2020 has been introduced into the Commonwealth Parliament to create a national register of industrial chemicals and make recommendations as to their risk management. Read more

The NSW Government proposes to introduce industry-specific environmental assessment requirements, new assessment guidelines and an environmental impact statement certification regime for State significant projects. Public submissions on the proposed reforms will close on 12 February 2021. Read more

Our prediction: The legal landscape is shifting away from being a roadblock to investment and towards facilitating upward momentum in the development space. Read more

The NSW Government is seeking feedback on proposed amendments to State environmental planning policies relating to health services facilities, educational establishments and childcare facilities. Submissions will close on 17 December 2020. Read more