Tenfold increase in scale of penalties for environmental offences in NSW

In brief - Government tackles environmental crime with increase in scale of on-the-spot fines

NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) penalty notice amounts have increased tenfold to $7,500 for individuals and $15,000 for corporations, signalling the state government's determination to tackle environmental crime.

Changes particularly affect waste industry, manufacturers and holders of Environment Protection Licence (EPL)

The introduction of the Protection of the Environment Operations (General) Amendment (Fees and Penalty Notices) Regulation 2014 No.564 (NSW) on 29 August 2014 now gives local councils and the NSW EPA the ability to issue increased penalty notices for environmental offences in NSW. The increase arises as a result of a push by the NSW government to have greater regulatory powers to tackle environmental crime.