The Queensland Government has announced a review of the Wind Farm Code (State Code 23) and accompanying guidelines used in the planning assessment of wind farm applications. Community consultation on the proposed changes will take place from Monday 7 August 2023 until Monday 4 September 2023. Read more

The Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act 2021 (WA) came into force on 1 July 2023. This blog post examines the transitional arrangements in the ACH Act which apply to section 18 consents granted under the Aboriginal Heritage Act 1972 (WA). Read more

The Perth Magistrates Court recently found gold miner Bellevue Gold Limited liable for two environmental offences relating to a hypersaline spill after enforcement action by the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation. Bellevue was fined $41,000 in total for the offences. Read more

The Environmental Protection and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2022 (Qld) (EPOLA Bill) was passed yesterday. The EPOLA Bill amends the Environmental Protection Act 1994 (Qld) with wide ranging implications for Queensland operators, in particular for the resources sector. It also makes minor amendments to the Waste Reduction and recycling Act 2011 (Qld) and the Wet Tropics World Heritage Protection and Management Act 1993 (Qld). Read more

On 4 March 2023, the UN Intergovernmental Conference on Marine Biodiversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (Conference) reached agreement on the text of a new treaty which seeks to protect the marine environment. The Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological … Read more

Government has announced that it will review the operation of the Safeguard Mechanism with a view to reducing greenhouse gas emissions from Australia’s highest emitting facilities. Comments on the discussion paper are due by 20 September 2022, with key issues in the discussion paper being calculation of baselines, the use of crediting mechanisms. Read more

The recent Australian Federal election has resulted in a change of government. While the government is settling in, our Environment, Planning and Communities partners set out their top 5 predictions for coming change on environmental matters, and where the priorities should lie. Read more

The NSW Department of Planning and Environment has consolidated 45 State Environmental Planning Policies (SEPPs) and deemed SEPPs into 11 new environmental planning instruments. Read more