Key Points:
Under proposed NSW Government reforms, the NSW EPA and
the Land and Environment Court will have increased powers to
scrutinise and punish polluters and non-compliant
operators.
On 28 May 2014, NSW Environment Minister Rob Stokes announced a
range of measures aimed to strengthen the Environment Protection
Authority (EPA) and provide it with more robust
regulatory tools.
Under the proposed reforms, compliant companies will be
rewarded, while operators who ignore, neglect or forget their
environmental obligations will face increased punishment and
scrutiny from both the EPA and the Court.
The reforms will also augment compliance tools for contaminated
sites, eliminate an environment protection licence holder's
right to advance notice of a licence revocation and bolster
penalties – with the amount of some penalties to increase
tenfold.
