Focus on Regional Environmental Compliance
This project aims to enhance regional environmental compliance through a coordinated approach, enhanced organisational capacity, staff training and targeted education and enforcement campaigns.
The compliance program will assist Councils and agencies by:
- Facilitating a Regional Compliance Network of Council and agency staff to promote information and resource sharing and formation of partnerships.
- Developing compliance tools, including data management and mapping tools and best practice policy, guidelines and planning instruments.
- Providing training, including workshops and an accredited compliance and enforcement training package.
- Providing support to Council and stakeholder enforcement and environmental compliance activities such as collaborative education and enforcement campaigns.
Model Regional Compliance Policy
Draft Regional Compliance Policy Template
HCCREMS, with the assistance of staff from a number of councils, has developed a draft regional compliance policy following requests from the Compliance Network.
The draft policy is designed to be tailored to each council’s regulatory environment and be adopted as an ‘umbrella’ document to form the framework under which councils manage issues of compliance.
Best practice guidelines for evidence gathering
Evidence Gathering Guideline
HCCREMS has developed the Evidence Gathering Guideline based on the training delivered by Russell Harrison and attended by 60 officers in the region. The Guideline has had peer review (by staff from a coastal council and a rural counci) and legal review.
Councils may adopt the document as a standard procedure or as a guideline.
Regional Compliance network
The Regional Compliance Network was initiated by HCCREMS in 2007 and is open to all staff with an interest or involvement in environmental compliance. The network comprises members from the 14 councils of the region as well as officers from other government agencies that deal with environmental compliance within the Hunter and Central Coast region. Network meetings occur twice yearly and provide a forum for networking, information sharing and capacity building. The network also provides a valuable avenue for input, feedback and direction on projects and materials of the FOCUS on Compliance program.
Regional Illegal Earthworks Campaign
HCCREMS has developed a community awareness and education campaign toolkit on illegal earthworks. The campaign is designed tobe implemented by councils across the region and has been developed with the assistance of Singleton Council staff. 
The campaign toolkit includes template mediareleases, newspaperadvertisements, web-page content, information for placement in council foyers, and materials for use in direct mail-outs to different sectors of the community.
The campaignis designed to raise the community ’s awareness about the environmental risks and consent requirements needed prior to undertaking earthworks (cutting and filling). The campaign will initially be undertaken by Singleton Council in May and HCCREMS is inviting other Councils to be involved.
Click here to download the Draft Illegal Earthworks Campaign Plan
For further information please contact Kate Meares on katem@huntercouncils.com.au or 49784027
Illegal Dumping Deterrence Project
HCCREMS is continuing to work with Gosford, Wyong, Lake Macquarie, Singleton, Great Lakes and Greater Taree Councils on the illegal dumping deterrence project. 11 Sites have been selected to trial the effectiveness of a range of deterrence measures including cameras, gates, cement blocks, earth mounds and barriers. Baseline monitoring has commenced at most sites to understand current levels and rates of dumping before deterrence measures are installed.
For further information on this project please contact Kate Meares on katem@huntercouncils.com.au or 49784027
This project has been assisted by the New South Wales Government through its Environmental Trust
