Environmental Compliance

2010 Funding Environmental Compliance

This report looks at the alternative options available to councils in New South Wales to raise funds for environmental compliance and protection programs. These options, each discussed in its own chapter, are:

1. Fees for compliance services
2. Levies, including environmental levies
3. Fines from criminal prosecutions for regulatory breaches
4. Administrative orders for environmental protection
5. Security (bonds) for issues such as impacts on council property (e.g. trees) or other environmental impacts (e.g. salinity and drainage)
6. Voluntary Planning Agreements
7. Contributions to public infrastructure or services
8. Biodiversity certification of planning instruments
9. Public Positive Covenants
10. Grants

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2012 Council Self Audit Tool Compliance Systems

The periodical review of Local Governments systems for managing compliance activities, both internal and of the regulated community is acknowledged as not only good business practice, but essential for councils to adequately manage and mitigate their risk of both environmental harm and legal liability.

The Practical System Review provides the following benefits to Councils:

• An opportunity for discussion and reflection on organisational processes
• A standard methodology for identifying strengths and weaknesses in current compliance systems and practices
• A structured methodology for tracking (and potentially reporting on) progress over time
• An ability to prioritise corrective actions and improvements to systems to ensure they deliver the desired compliance outcomes
• Building staff knowledge and skills in relation to best practice.

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2012 Regional Compliance Assurance Policy and Guidelines

The policy provides a framework which encourages voluntary compliance, provides guidance to councils on best practice decision making principles, assists councils to minimise risks to the environment and to inform the community about how councils manage their environmental compliance responsibilities.

To assist councils to implement the policy, a series of guidelines have been developed to accompany the policy, these are:

• Compliance Inspection & Monitoring Guideline
• Developing Quality Conditions of Consent Guideline
• Promoting Compliance Guideline
• Managing Reports of Non-Compliance Guideline
• Investigations Guideline
  • Leaks spillages and other escapes
  • Pollution of land
  • Unlawful transporting of waste
  • A person who deposits litter
  • A person who pollutes waters
  • Disposal of waste – harms environment
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• Evidence Gathering Guideline
• Recorded Interview Guideline
• Camera Surveillance Guideline
• Enforcement Options Guideline

Regional Tree & Vegetation Vandalism Policy

The purpose of this policy is to promote a consistent regional approach to the protection and
management of trees and vegetation in the landscape, particularly in deterring and
responding to the loss of vegetation arising from deliberate vandalism on public land.

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