About Environmental Compliance
Environmental compliance refers to the regulated community's adherence to environmental legislation, regulations and policy including:
- Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Act (1999)
- Native Title Act (1993)
- Environmental Planning and Assessment Act (1979)
- Noxious Weeds Act (1993)
- National Parks and Wildlife Service Act
- Water Management Act (2000)
- Threatened Species Conservation Act (1995)
- Marine Parks Act (1997)
- Contaminated Lands Management Act (1997)
- Aboriginal Land Rights Act (1983)
- NSW Heritage Act (1977)
- Protection of the Environment Operations Act
- Native Vegetation Act
- Local Government Act
- Local Environmental Plans (LEP)
- State Environmental Planning Policies (SEPP)
- Development Control Plans (DCP)
Local councils have an important role in ensuring compliance with environmental regulations. Councils undertake a number of activities to fulfil this role such as education, record keeping, monitoring and auditing and reactive investigation and enforcement activities that occur after any non compliance has been detected.
Some of the main environmental compliance issues identified in the HCCREMS Region are:
- Illegal clearing and tree removal
- Illegal filling and earthworks
- Illegal dumping on public reserves
- Water pollution from residential areas and industry
- Sediment and erosion control and waste management practices on construction sites