epa strategic plan 2017-21...epa strategic plan 2017-21 5 epa priorities the epa’s priorities...

NSW Environment Protection Authority1www.epa.nsw.gov.au

EPA Strategic Plan 2017-212018 updated

Message from the EPA Acting Chair and CEO 3

The EPA’s vision 4Our purpose 4Our foundational statements 4

EPA priorities 5

Our commitments in 2017–21 7Commitment 1: Improved human health and environmental protection 8Commitment 2: Best practice environmental regulator 13Commitment 3: Effective management of environmental incidents 17Commitment 4: Innovative waste management 20Commitment 5: Sound strategic and planning advice 24Commitment 6: Effective communication and stakeholder engagement 26Commitment 7: Exemplary and innovative organisation 29

EPA’s reporting to NSW Government 34

2 NSW Environment Protection Authority

Contents

EPA officer testing water, Newcastle John Spencer/EPA

Message from the EPA Acting Chair and CEO

As the state’s primary environmental regulator, the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) protects the community and our environment.

At the EPA we value integrity, trust, service, accountability, transparency and innovation, and are committed to maintaining and enhancing the liveability of NSW by preventing harm to human health and the environment.These values are embedded in our day-to-day work and how we go about this as a leader, partner and protector for the environment.With this, there are some key areas the organisation will be focusing on this year:• providing a great customer experience to everyone we deal

with – treating all our customers, be they citizens of NSW or licensees, with respect.

• ensuring we keep our eye on the outcomes we want to deliver for the environmental health of NSW, by ensuring our decisions are transparent and evidence-based, and seeking innovative solutions.

• being responsive – making sure we respond quickly and effectively and hold ourselves accountable for our actions. This includes our response to major environmental incidents, right through to community responses via Environment Line, and responding to emails and formal correspondence.

As individual public servants, resilience and integrity are vital – this is how we deal with change and how we maintain the trust of the citizens of NSW. People want good decisions and they want us to be transparent, fair and balanced. It is important that we base our decisions on facts, evidence and good sense.It is pleasing to see the achievements a year on from the start of our current strategic plan in 2017.

Here are some of the highlights:• We committed to remove the backlog of unassessed

contaminated sites by the end of 2017, and this is complete. All sites have now been comprehensively assessed and are being made safe.

• The rollout of the NSW container deposit scheme, Return and Earn, began on 1 December 2017. As of July 2018, more than 500 million containers had been returned. This is the largest litter reduction initiative introduced in NSW and will help meet the Premier’s goal of reducing the volume of litter in the state by 40% by 2020.

• In 2017, we responded to all pollution incident reports within 30 minutes and provided an effective response to major incidents.

• We performed well in the NSW Public Sector Commission’s People Matter Employee Survey with high staff engagement. The results are used to continually improve ourselves, and to be an exemplar organisation.

The EPA reviews its strategic plan annually and has updated the 2017–21 strategic plan to include new priorities and emerging issues. A good strategy reflects where we are today and identifies the steps we need to take to drive us to the future. The EPA Executive and Board have worked together to identify priorities and areas of focus for the EPA. These are reflected in this update as commitments and actions for the year ahead and beyond.

Anissa LevyEPA Acting Chair and CEO

EPA Strategic Plan 2017-21 3

Everyone in NSW shares responsibility for the protection of the environment

We provide leadership to prevent harm to the environment and human health

Our culture emphasises ethical conduct and evidence-based decisions

Our actions and decisions today will determine the future environmental health of NSW

We take a holistic approach to managing the environment sustainably

Healthy community

Healthy business

Healthy environment

Our vision is for NSW to have a healthy environment, healthy community and healthy business. We believe healthy ecosystems are the foundation for healthy communities, for a healthy economy and for enhancing liveability.

NSW Environment Protection Authority4

The EPA's vision

Our valuesIntegrity, trust, service, accountability, transparency, innovation

Our purposeAs the state’s primary environmental regulator, we are a leader, partner and protector for our community and the environment.

We lead in protecting the health of the community, now and in the future, by protecting air, waterways and land.

We work with communities, governments and businesses to reduce impacts on the environment.

We hold people and organisations to account through licensing, monitoring, regulation and enforcement.

Our foundational statements Our five foundational statements help the EPA and the community of NSW to achieve its vision.


EPA priorities

The EPA’s priorities emphasise our response to changing global policies, government priorities, community needs and significant environmental issues. The EPA Board oversees and governs the EPA, and in 2017 identified five areas of focus for the organisation. Our existing priorities have been modified to reflect these important focus areas.

Protect communities affected by environmental issues and emerging problems• Work to predict risks and address environmental threats

before they become a problem

• Establish a panel of independent experts to provide advice and support evidence-based decisions

• Boost our response to major environmental incidents with a rapid-response team, improved sampling capability and a trained, agile and mobile workforce

Protect the health and wellbeing of communities by minimising the impact of contamination and hazardous substances in our environment• Implement the recommendations of three independent

reviews to improve the management of contaminated land supported with an extra $23.5 million over four years

• Assess contaminated sites early and manage risks

• Ensure polluters pay to clean up the environment

Protect the environment from the impacts of waste• Combat more waste and track down rule breakers

through our new Waste Crime Taskforce

• Reduce waste and encourage recycling by embedding the container deposit scheme, and progressing the state’s response to China’s National Sword Policy, which limits the kinds of recyclable waste material China will accept

• Reduce the volume of litter by 40% by 2020 (Premier’s Priority)

• Halt the growth in per capita waste generation and divert more waste away from landfill, with more recycling

• Reduce the amount of plastics entering the environment

• Reduce illegal dumping by 30% by 2020

Ensure people feel cared for when faced with environmental issues• Strengthen EPA stakeholder engagement capacity and

active responses

• Enhance community confidence about environment protection by making decisions supported by scientific evidence with the support of the Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH)

• Continue to listen to and engage with all stakeholders and address community concerns with compassion

Protect environmental values• Strengthen partnerships and improve environmental

compliance by working closely, sharing knowledge and providing support to our local government partners

• Reduce population health impacts from exposure to air emissions by improving air quality across NSW

• Protect aquatic life, waterway usability and water resources by looking after the health of our rivers and groundwater

• Maintain key native forest values, including the protection of threatened species, with the regulation of native forestry operations

• Ensure environmental challenges are considered in planning for the future of the state


Our commitments in 2017-21

The EPA is focused on delivering on its priorities and vision. We have identified seven strategic areas that lead our work.

1 Improved human health and environmental protection

Lead in protecting the health of the community now and for the future, by protecting our air, waterways and land

2 Best practice environmental regulation

Hold people and organisations to account through licensing, monitoring, regulation and enforcement. Hold ourselves to account by making evidence-based decisions and monitoring our decisions.

3 Effective management of environmental incidents

Plan for, prepare and respond to emergencies where human health and the environment are at risk

4 Innovative waste management

Lead programs to reduce waste, increase recycling and improve behaviour associated with littering and waste disposal

5 Sound strategic and planning advice

Ensure planning decisions made today consider the future environmental health of NSW

6 Effective communication and stakeholder engagement

Work with communities, government and businesses so that we all play our part to reduce impact on the environment

7 Exemplary and innovative organisation

Work ethically and sustainably, and provide leading staff development, and enviable career opportunities

Morning walkers along foreshore, NewcastleJohn Spencer/EPA


EPA priorities and commitments for 2017-21


Outcome

1.1 Contaminated sites: Risks to the community and environment from contaminated land are reduced

Action

Measures

We lead in protecting the health of the community, now and for the future, by protecting our air, waterways and land. We know actions and decisions today will affect the future environmental health of NSW. We adopt environmental standards prescribed by complementary State and Commonwealth legislation, advise the NSW Government to prescribe more stringent standards where appropriate and set mandatory targets for environmental improvement.

• Protect the health and wellbeing of our communities byimplementing the recommendations of three independent reviewsto improve the management of contaminated land, supported bythe NSW Government with an extra $23.5 million over four years

• Support local councils to better manage contaminated land

• Lead the whole-of-government response under the Heads of AsbestosCoordination Authorities to better manage legacy asbestos

• Identify, assess and implement protective measures for addressinghistorical James Hardie asbestos sites

• Triage new contaminated land notifications using the prioritisationtool to identify and respond to risk

• Assess the extent of PFAS[1] use and contamination in NSW (consistentwith the PFAS National Environmental Management Plan)

• Apply cost recovery procedures so responsible parties contributeto the EPA’s costs of regulating contaminated land

• Continue to implement the NSW site auditor scheme to ensureassessments are rigorous

• Review the Contaminated Land Management Act 1997 to ensureinternational best practice in protecting human health andthe environment

• Work with councils on the management of underground petroleumstorage systems and lead contamination issues

• Continue the Broken Hill Environmental Lead Program to address theissue of elevated blood lead levels in children and the regulation ofsignificantly contaminated land

Completed: We have completed assessments of 834 sites in the contaminated land backlog program and developed and released new wood smoke education materials for local councils, to emphasise the negative impacts of wood smoke on everyone’s health.

• 95% of new contaminated sites are assessed and prioritised within four months of notification where sufficient information is available• At least 95% of management order conditions are complied with• At least 95% of terms and conditions of approved voluntary management proposals are complied with

• Priorities identified by the EPA Board

1: Improved human health and environmental protection1: Improved human health and environmental protection

Outcome

1.2 Hazardous substances Risks from hazardous sources (including radiation, pesticides and chemicals) are reduced Risks from the storage and transportation of dangerous goods are reduced

Action

Measures

• By 2021, a 20% increase in awareness of suitable spraying behaviour by agricultural pesticide users

• By 2021, a 20% increase in householder awareness of safe chemical use around the home

• By 2021, a 20% increase in practitioner awareness of safe radiation practices

• By 2021, 70% of businesses and their drivers understand and demonstrate best practice transport of hazardous substances

• Ensure that users of industrial chemicals and pesticides are compliant and act responsibly

• Protect the community and environment from future impacts of industrial chemicals and pesticides by assessing emerging risks for priority action

• Promote targeted awareness and safe use of chemicals and pesticides in the community

• Reduce risks associated with transporting hazardous materials, including radiation, dangerous goods and waste

• Increase the adoption and maintenance of safe transport practices, such as electronic stability controls and retrofitting of old tank trailers

• Target transporters who use unsafe transport practices

• Undertake inspections of facilities storing dangerous goods in tanks

• Identify and capture radioactive sources that are not presently regulated and monitor use and disposal of radioactive sources

• Undertake an inspection program of mines in shut-down or care and maintenance to ensure all registered radioactive sources are on the inventory and radiation management licence

: [1]PFAS is a group of chemicals that include perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). They were widely used in a range of consumer and industrial products in Australia and internationally for their fire retardant qualities. PFAS is an emerging contaminant, which means its ecological and human health effects are unclear.




Outcome

1.3 Forestry operations Key forest values are maintained throughout native forestry operations on public and private land

Action

Measures

• By 2019, a new regulatory framework for native forestry on both public and private lands is in place, incorporating modernised penalties, increased regulatory tools and a flexible and risk-based regulatory regime

• 95% of high-risk native forestry operations are assessed for compliance against the native forestry regulations and guidelines prior to completion of operations

• Implement the government’s legislative reforms for native forestry and review of the Private Native Forestry Codes of Practice

• Implement a strategic compliance, enforcement and engagement program to improve forestry industry compliance with the native forestry regulations and guidelines

• Build on the outputs of the koala mapping program and threatened ecological community mapping (in partnership with Office of Environment and Heritage Science)

Outcome

1.4 Resources including mining and gas All mining and gas activities are conducted in accordance with the conditions of approval and environment protection licence conditions so impacts on human health and the environment are minimised

Action

Measures

• By 2019, 100% of gas sites bought back by the NSW Government under the NSW Gas Plan are confirmed to be compliant with conditions • All gas sites with active wells are inspected each year

• Lead the regulation of gas activities in NSW, including compliance and enforcement of all conditions of approval and environment protection licence conditions for gas activities, under the NSW Gas Plan

• Partner with other agencies to standardise a regulatory framework so all conditions are reasonable, practical and measurable


Outcome

1.6 Water A risk-based framework is used to consider waterway health outcomes during the strategic planning process Water quality is protected from harmful discharges

Action

• Partner with councils and other agencies to make the Parramatta River swimmable by 2025

• Review pollution limits on licences for small sewage treatment plants in NSW

• Work jointly with Sydney Water to set wet weather overflow improvements from the sewage system

• Protect and restore water quality with a focus on: ° nutrient loads on inland waterways, such as the Hawkesbury–

Nepean river system from Goulburn to Pittwater ° South Creek as part of Sydney’s ‘Western Parkland City’ ° mining salinity and estuarine contaminants in the Hunter River ° coal and gas impacts on waterways and groundwater

• Ensure water salinity targets are met through the Hunter River Salinity Trading Scheme

• Monitor and report on water quality in known safe swimming and fishing locations (including via licence holders)

• Develop operational guidance on point source discharge monitoring for environment protection licences (in partnership with OEH Science)

• Apply the risk-based decision-making framework for considering waterway health in strategic land use planning (in partnership with OEH Science)

• A risk-based framework is used to inform water quality outcomes for South Creek catchment

Outcome

1.5 Air quality The community and environment are protected from harmful air emissions and the effects of air pollution

Action

Measure• Improvement in the index for average air quality in NSW as measured by the Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH)

• Implement programs that protect communities from significant local or regional air pollution, such as non-road diesel engines, wood smoke and industry sources

• Update the Clean Air Regulation to meet community expectations and to align with current best practice and available technology

• Ensure all motorway tunnel operators have an environment protection licence and are monitored to meet air quality limits

• Audit the wood heater retail industry to check compliance with updated standards

• Make random inspections of coal mines to check dust control compliance

• Advance the Dust Risk Forecasting System, which aims to predict days when mines need to take extra precautions to reduce dust

Measure

• 83% of coastal and estuarine beaches are classified as having ‘very good’ or ‘good’ recreational water quality (as measured by OEH Beachwatch)



Outcome

1.7 Liveability Impacts of infrastructure provision and industrial activities on the community are minimised

Action

• Implement changes to the EPA’s regulation of the operational rail network to allow more effective controls of air and noise emissions

• Address noise issues and offer guidance on the noise regulation of large-scale industrial, transport and construction activities

• Implement a framework for management of odour, and design ways to identify and reduce odours generated by intensive poultry farming

• Work within international agreements to ensure consistency for hazardous chemicals, hazardous waste, radiation and the transport of dangerous goods

• Implement a pilot scheme to introduce a new approach to changed urban water management for the South Creek catchment

• Use our water management expertise in the South Creek corridor to promote better liveability in Sydney’s ‘Western Parkland City’ for residential and employment land near the Western Sydney Airport development, and inform other growth areas, such as the south west and north west

• Verify and enforce coal mine noise levels in the Upper Hunter Valley

1: Improved human health and environmental protection

Outcome

2.1 Leadership The EPA provides local, state and national leadership on emerging environmental issues

Action

• Protect our citizens and the environment by looking ahead, working to predict risks and emerging environmental threats before they become a problem

• Develop environmental policies and apply controls where none exist • Respond appropriately to environmental issues by seeking

to amend legislation and policy; for example, tunnel stacks, National Environment Protection Measures for air toxics, and for rail operations

• Implement the Heads of EPAs Australia and New Zealand (HEPA) PFAS draft national management plan

• Achieve better regulatory practice through continued participation and interaction with AELERT

• Lead strategic assessment and decision-making through intelligence and analysis, communities of practice and environmental liabilities

• Deliver nationally accredited, best practice training in environmental regulation

We strive to remain a best practice regulator and continually review our performance. We share experiences with and learn from other Australian and international regulators by participating in the Australasian Environmental Law Enforcement and Regulators Network (AELERT). We make decisions backed by scientific evidence with the support of our science partners at the Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH).The regulatory work undertaken by our operational teams is our core business and is vital to achieving good environmental outcomes. We change poor behaviours and enhance good behaviours by holding people and organisations to account through licensing, monitoring, regulation and enforcement. We engage with stakeholders, responding to community concerns and community expectations for environmental protection.Completed: Our Senior Management Team undertook the leading high-performance team program in 2018. Our operational teams regulate activities undertaken by local councils, government agencies and businesses and administer: • 3,000 environment protection licences• 18,000 radiation management and user licences• 4,460 pest control licences


• 7,600 dangerous goods licences (drivers) • 1,130 tanker approvals• 117 orders and approvals regulating the management of significantly contaminated land

2: Best practice environmental regulator



Outcome

2.2 Enforcement Enforcement action reflects the seriousness of the non-compliance and leads to improved compliance, redresses harm and acts as a deterrent to re-offending

Action

Measure

• 90% prosecution success rate (excluding litter and test cases)

• Combat waste crime through waste compliance and a specialised Waste Crime Taskforce, targeting serious, organised and high-profile cases through responsive and timely investigations, prosecutions and other interventions

• Use innovation to identify and disrupt criminal waste business models

• Undertake strategic investigations and prosecutions to provide both specific and operational deterrents to non-compliance

Outcome

2.3 Compliance High levels of regulatory compliance are maintained

Action

Measures

• At least 99% of environment protection licence conditions are complied with • Annual reduction of licenses with non-compliance to conditions (environment protection licence annual returns)

• Continue to implement the EPA’s strategy for risk-based regulation

• Take effective regulatory action to address non-compliances, including campaigns, licence reviews, education and awareness programs, warning letters, statutory notices, enforceable undertakings and prosecutions

• Deliver an audit program and advise on the operational response to non-compliance

• Undertake regulatory programs for non-licensed activities regulated by the EPA to ensure environmental best practice

• Undertake targeted compliance programs, such as motor vehicle compliance activities

• Undertake compliance audits of high-risk industry sectors and premises in accordance with the EPA Compliance Policy and Plan

• Make data associated with compliance monitoring accessible through the NSW government environmental data portal, SEED



Outcome

2.5 Evidence-based decision-making EPA decisions are based on rigorous science and best information available

Action

Measure• The EPA is viewed as a credible source of information on environmental issues (stakeholder surveys)

• Deliver the EPA Training Strategy to ensure a highly capable workforce with regulatory competencies

• EPA compliance and enforcement activities are guided by strategic, operational and tactical intelligence. Intelligence outcomes are reported to the Regulatory Practice Sub Committee

• Ensure the EPA continues to deliver evidence-based solutions to pollution and waste, and actively seeks to promote the science (in partnership with OEH Science)

• Partner with OEH Science to improve environmental protection. Our partnership agreement will cover scientific evidence-based decisions, risk-based assessments, threatened ecological community mapping, old growth mapping, laboratory analyses (including water and asbestos), PFAS science and other emerging issues

• Actively seek research funding from sources, such as the NSW Environmental Trust

Outcome

2.4 Regulatory risk EPA regulatory efforts target highest-risk locations

Action

Measures

• 100% of licences are risk-assessed in the risk-based licensing framework

• 100% of high-risk licences are inspected every six months

• 100% of sites declared to be significantly contaminated land have regulatory instruments in place, or under preparation, to manage the contamination

• Allocate regulatory resources more efficiently by varying environment protection licences for low-risk premises to remove monitoring and reporting conditions (where appropriate)

• Seek regulatory amendments where high-risk activities are identified, such as management of construction and demolition waste

• Evaluate the risk-based licensing system to ensure it incentivises licensees to improve environmental performance

• Deliver best practice environmental regulation and develop innovative regulatory tools to improve environmental behaviour through the EPA risk-based regulatory framework, compliance audit program, compliance policy and innovative regulatory tools




Outcome

2.6 Assurance and oversight A transparent and consistent regulatory approach that aligns with best practice

Action

• Report to the EPA Board to ensure oversight and monitoring of the EPA and, where necessary, advise the Minister on matters relating to environmental protection and EPA operations

• Prepare an annual Regulatory Assurance Statement, Compliance Plan and review of the Strategic Plan

• Ensure a consistent and transparent regulatory approach via internal review committees

• Benchmark performance using the AELERT Modern Regulators Improvement Tool

Outcome

2.7 Reporting EPA reporting and evaluation processes inform decision-making and drive continuous improvement

Action

Measures

• 100% of branches have an up-to-date branch plan• State of the Environment Report 2018 delivered to the Minister for the Environment by the end of 2018

• Use reporting practices and a reporting framework that drives performance improvement

• Encourage data sharing by participating in the NSW Government SEED strategy

• Ensure branch plans and individual work plans are in place and directly correlate with the EPA Strategic Plan

• Strategic Plan success measures are monitored quarterly and remedies put in place for difficult-to-achieve targets

• Create an online and accessible report on the NSW State of the Environment to clearly inform the community, government and business on environmental issues and trends

• Consider and implement expanded performance-based reporting

• Implement reporting commitments made in the EPA response to the Auditor General’s Report on the Regulation of water pollution in drinking water catchments and illegal disposal of solid waste


Outcome

3.1 Response Harm to the environment from hazardous incidents is minimised

Action

Measures

• The EPA responds or decides on appropriate action within 30 minutes of being notified of an environmental incident (95% of cases)

• 100% of incidents where real or perceived harm to human health is identified, and in which the EPA is identified as the lead regulator, are communicated in a timely manner to the impacted community (media or social media)

• Boost our response to major environmental incidents with a rapid-response team and improved sampling capability

• Overview environment protection activities during emergencies and arrange the provision of specialist advice and technical assistance as required

• Provide specialised support in emergency operations to protect human health and the environment

• Ensure affected residents can speak with EPA staff and access extra information during incidents

• Facilitate and support emergency response actions and operations under the NSW State Emergency Management Plan and NSW Environmental Services Functional Area Supporting Plan

The EPA has a coordinating role in emergencies where the environment is at risk. We plan for, prepare and respond to incidents. We provide effective incident management support, analysis and investigation to minimise environmental harm and to facilitate environmental restoration or the clean up of residues by the responsible party.Completed: In 2017, we responded to all pollution incident reports within 30 minutes and provided an effective response to major incidents.


3: Effective management of environmental incidents



Outcome

3.2 Planning for incidents Licensees are prepared for environmental incidents and activate plans when an incident occurs

Action

Measure

• 100% of environment protection licensees have a pollution incident response management plan (PIRMP)

Outcome

3.3 Preparation EPA collaboration with emergency services and partner agencies is seamless

Action

Measures

• 100% of recommendations from debriefs of major environmental incidents (involving the EPA and where the EPA attended) adopted or acted on (within six months)

• 95% of all EPA authorised officers trained in the EPA’s Incident Management System


• Ensure all businesses holding an environment protection licence have up-to-date pollution incident response management plans (PIRMPs) for their premises, tested frequently and implemented if there is a pollution incident

• Provide education and guidance to help businesses prepare for and prevent environmental incidents

• Learn from and share experience with other jurisdictions to improve preparedness for environmental incidents

• Ensure all new and existing EPA authorised officers are familiar with the EPA’s role within the State Emergency Management Framework

• Provide advice on the management and disposal of contaminated and hazardous wastes

• Maintain a 24-hour, 7-day-a-week Duty Incident Advice Coordinator to ensure an EPA contact is always available

• Undertake a debrief after each major incident to learn from our experience and assign priorities to recommendations

Outcome

3.4 Recovery Remediation and clean up following an incident is undertaken and paid for by the responsible party

Action

Measure

• 90% of licensed premises in priority sectors, such as gas and waste (excluding landfills), have secure funding for environmental liabilities in place by the end of 2021


• Work with high-risk sectors and facilities to put financial assurances and insurance systems in place

• Strengthen our laws so industries meet their obligations to clean up sites

• Support local government in asbestos emergencies by activating the NSW Asbestos Emergency Sub Plan

• Be actively involved in the recovery phase of large-scale waste management emergencies (such as asbestos waste and natural disasters) and those occurring at orphaned, abandoned or high-risk sites



Outcome

4.1 Recycle more Recycling is increased

Action

Measure

• Recycling rates are increased to 70% for municipal solid waste and commercial and industrial waste, and 80% for construction and demolition waste by 2021–22

We introduce policies and implement programs that reduce waste, increase recycling and improve behaviour associated with littering and waste disposal. We regulate the transportation, collection, treatment, storage and disposal of waste and support waste reduction by encouraging re-use and recycling, and material recovery. We implement the Premier’s Priority to reduce the volume of litter by 40 per cent by 2020.Completed:• In December 2017 we introduced the Return and Earn container deposit scheme, and by July 2018, more than 500 million drink

containers had been returned to return points. In the first quarter of 2018, the scheme was capturing 61% of eligible containers supplied in NSW.

• The NSW EPA is pleased to note that industry has delivered against the Australian environment ministers’ target in voluntarily phasing out microbeads in cosmetics and personal care products.

• Our Bin Trim program has helped more than 22,000 small and medium-sized businesses recycle more food, paper and other recyclables.• We are managing household problem waste with more than 80 community recycling centres open for the public to dispose of waste such as paint,

fluorescent light bulbs and batteries. • The Circulate program supports business-to-business waste re-use and recycling projects that have kept over 35,000 tonnes of waste

(such as timber, plastic, metal and organic waste) out of landfill, and repurposed into something new.

• Encourage recycling and waste reduction by embedding the container deposit scheme and progressing the state’s responses to China’s National Sword Policy, which limits the kinds of recyclable waste material that China will accept

• Stimulate additional investment in new or enhanced waste

and recycling infrastructure as part of the Waste Less, Recycle More initiative

• Facilitate development of markets for recycled materials and encourage innovation in recycling technology

• Once finalised and released, implement the NSW Waste and Resource Recovery Infrastructure Strategy

4: Innovative waste management

Outcome

4.2 Illegal dumping Illegal dumping is reduced

Action

Measure• Illegal dumping reduced by 30% by 2020

Outcome

4.3 Litter Litter is reduced

Action

Measure

• The volume of littered items is reduced by 40% per 1000 square metres by 2020


• Reduce illegal dumping by developing regulatory and policy positions that inform targeted waste compliance and enforcement programs

• Implement the NSW Illegal Dumping Strategy 2017–21

• Partner with the NSW Government, local councils, Regional Illegal Dumping Squads, industry and the community to combat and prevent illegal dumping through grant funding, training, data collection and joint initiatives

• Support enforcement activity against litterers by increasing the number of trained government officers with powers to enforce litter regulations

• Identify and clean up litter hotspots and encourage the installation of public space infrastructure and appropriate signage to reduce littering behaviour

• Consult on the NSW Litter Prevention Strategy• Continue to work with the Australian Government, other

jurisdictions and key stakeholders to develop an improved national litter count methodology



Outcome

4.4 Container litter Litter is reduced by the growth of the container deposit scheme

Action

Measures

• Reduce beverage container litter volume by 50% by 2020 from the 2013–14 baseline as measured in the National Litter Index.• 90% of NSW households have access to a Return and Earn collection point

Outcome

4.5 Reduce waste Waste generation is reduced

Action

Measure• Zero growth in per capita waste generation by 2021–22


• Monitor the performance of the container deposit scheme and ensure accessibility to collection points across the state

• Lead engagement and build support for the container deposit scheme in the not-for-profit and school sectors

• Support the Office of Local Government to provide councils with information and access to container deposit refund revenue

• Facilitate harmonisation between container deposit schemes in neighbouring jurisdictions and minimise business impacts in border regions

• Work with Exchange for Change, the scheme coordinator, to develop an export protocol to allow exporters to claim back scheme costs on container beverages that are exported out of NSW

• Facilitate a push to reduce the volume of plastics in the environment, such as single-use plastic bags, coffee cups, straws and microbeads

• Develop a long-term Waste and Resource Recovery Strategy and report on progress

• Use economic and technological approaches, such as the waste levy, to provide an incentive for waste generators to avoid or reduce their waste

• Continue to work with the Australian Government, other jurisdictions and key stakeholders on national product stewardship initiatives under the Commonwealth Product Stewardship Act 2011, including the Australian Packaging Covenant

• Work with NSW Aboriginal communities to improve waste management and reduce litter and illegal dumping


Outcome

4.6 Waste diverted More waste is diverted from landfill

Action

• Divert waste from landfill by implementing the Energy from Waste Policy to complement and maximise the waste hierarchy to conserve landfill space

Measure

• Waste diverted from landfill increased from 63% in 2010–11 to 75% by 2021–22

Outcome

4.7 Problem wastes Problem wastes are better managed

Action

Measure

• 90% of NSW households have access to problem waste services by 2021


• Fund a statewide network of permanent drop-off points and collection events for common household wastes, such as paint, batteries, gas bottles, fluorescent light bulbs and smoke detectors

• Implement actions to reduce risks and manage issues with James Hardie legacy asbestos waste

• Take over the Heads of Asbestos Coordination Authority hosting role from Safework from 1 July 2018

• Develop an Asbestos Waste Disposal Strategy 2018–22 and Asbestos Waste Protocol that removes obstacles to the safe disposal of asbestos by the community

• Investigate and promote solutions for problematic and legacy wastes, including a replacement for the Homebush Bay liquid waste treatment plant



We contribute to planning for the future of NSW. As an independent statutory authority we develop and inform environmental programs and policies to prevent harm to human health and the environment and improve liveability in NSW. We also work with state and federal governments, local councils and other key organisations to ensure environmental issues are considered in major planning assessments and broader environmental policies. We provide informative planning advice to consent authorities on environment protection issues to ensure that development consent conditions adequately protect the environment. We are working with the Greater Sydney Commission to deliver better and more strategic planning outcomes for Sydney.Completed:• Last year we completed 750 planning referrals that required environment protection licences or EPA regulation. • The EPA assessment and approval requirements were incorporated into key documents such as the NSW Integrated Mining Policy, which seeks to

improve mining regulation and manage the environmental and social impacts of mining.

Outcome

5.1 Improved strategic planning Strategic planning is influenced, and cumulative and diffuse-source pollution is addressed, through environment policies

Action

• Explore how best to use environmental policies to influence priority issues via the planning system, for example by linking in to the District Plans for Sydney and continuing investigation of the potential use of a Protection of the Environment Policy to inform growth in the South Creek Catchment

• Investigate mechanisms for low carbon precinct planning outcomes through increased energy efficiency, water recycling, and waste avoidance, reduction and re-use

• Share our expertise about contaminated sites to inform decision makers and the community

• Continue to have strategic input in the Greater Sydney Commission’s City of Cities Plan, initially with a focus on Parramatta and South Creek Rivers and setting a framework that can be used in other areas

5: Sound strategic and planning advice

Outcome

5.2 Information provision Information is provided to decision-makers, enabling all relevant environmental impacts to be considered in:

Action

Measure

• 100% of development approvals for major infrastructure, where environment protection licences are issued, contain conditions recommended or agreed to by the EPA (sample audit)

Outcome

5.3 Timeliness All planning referrals are responded to in a timely fashion

Action

Measure

• The EPA responds to 100% of planning referrals within agreed or statutory timeframes

° assessing development proposals ° making strategic plans or policies

5: Sound strategic and planning advice

• Engage with approving agencies and local councils to support better planning decisions that take into account the effects on the environment, noise, water, odour, pollution, relevant local planning issues and other potential land use conflicts

• Engage with the Greater Sydney Commission, Independent Planning Commission and Department of Planning and Environment to improve environmental planning in subregional planning and future plans

• Incorporate better air quality and water-sensitive urban design into strategic planning for Sydney and the delivery of new growth and infill areas

• Implement a risk-based approach for Sydney Water wet weather overflows

• Influence industrial redevelopment proposals to adequately address legacy issues, such as odour, hazardous materials, asbestos, hydrocarbons and noise

• Promote consideration of impacts when planning authorities locate new residential developments and associated uses (such as schools, hospitals, nursing homes or childcare centres) near major transport corridors, industrial sites or intensive agriculture

• Provide consistent and timely advice to determining authorities when required, on potential or known impacts from activities regulated by the EPA

• Investigate options for more focused reporting on the EPA’s role in state significant developments, master plan releases and major industrial, intermodal and parks planning referrals



Outcome

6.1 Consult and involve Individuals, communities, independent experts and businesses help inform and drive the agenda on environmental issues

Action

Measures

We have a strong focus on respecting our customers and providing them with a great experience when they deal with the EPA. We work with, listen to and engage with communities, government, independent experts and businesses to reduce impacts on the environment. We respond to the needs of communities and businesses and continue to strengthen our role as an important partner with local government. We provide information, education and support to the community to help inform decisions that could impact the environment and improve the environmental performance of businesses, community and government in NSW. We strive to provide this in an effective and timely fashion and extend our outreach in the community. We seek to build relationships through trust and mutual learning, and monitor and evaluate our performance to continuously improve the way we engage. We promote environmental citizenship.We respond quickly and effectively when environmental issues affect the community, including major environmental incidents through to responding to Environment Line response emails and formal correspondence.


• Stakeholder consultation is undertaken 100% of the time when regulatory and legislative changes are proposed• The community is notified when an environmental issue or incident poses a risk to human health• 100% of new significantly contaminated land declarations have had a stakeholder communications evaluation undertaken

• Address community concerns with compassion and ensure people feel cared for when faced with environmental issues and emerging problems, by strengthening EPA stakeholder engagement capacity, and active responses

• Improve environmental compliance by working closely with, sharing knowledge with and providing support to our local government partners to manage contaminated land legacies, pollution incidents and problem waste

• Consult and involve stakeholders to help them understand regulatory or legislative requirements or reforms

• Make greater use of community consultation committees as a conduit for information to their own communities

• Support frontline staff so they can better assist the community and businesses with issues affecting them

• All community consultative committees have a full membership and are run according to their Terms of Reference

6: Effective communication and stakeholder engagement

Outcome

6.2 Inform Stakeholders have a clear understanding of the EPA’s role and how they can contribute to a shared responsibility for environmental protection

Action

Measures

Outcome

6.3 Community and stakeholder attitudes The community and stakeholders are satisfied with the EPA

Action


• Continue to implement the EPA Stakeholder Survey 2016–17 recommendations, including broadening communication and engagement channels

• Survey community attitudes about environment protection and waste avoidance

• Maintain the EPA’s emergency response protocol for communicating with people affected by environmental incidents

• Survey stakeholder attitudes through surveys and the Environment Line Customer Experience Survey and publicly report on our response to any issues raised

• Design communication and consultation strategies that meet the needs of EPA stakeholders and the community

• Make reliable, accurate and timely information available to all EPA stakeholders through a wide range of communication and engagement channels

• Improve EPA’s web, social media, mobile apps and online service portal to provide easy access to information and engage with EPA stakeholders

• Influence changes to waste avoidance, recycling, littering and illegal dumping behaviour with education and community awareness programs, such as Love Food Hate Waste, Household Chemical Cleanout and Return and Earn

• Provide consistent and easy-to-read materials to help stakeholders and the community understand what the EPA is responsible for

• Number of litter reporters registered to use Report to EPA (online reporting) increased by 10% • 5% increase in number of web page sessions• 10% increase in web sessions on a mobile device• EPA increase in social media activity by 30 June 2019 (4,000 Twitter followers; 4,000 LinkedIn followers; 85% of days in the period with social

media updates)



Outcome

6.4 Customer service EPA responses to customers are timely, accurate and consistent

Action

Measures

• Response times are met for 95% of correspondence within agreed timeframes • 100% of calls to the EPA via Environment Line or reporting apps are allocated to an appropriate officer for response

• Develop an end-to-end customer experience process for correspondence, and monitor targets

• Provide a strong customer focus to meet customer expectations for timeliness and responsiveness

• Develop and implement a formal plan to improve customer service, in line with Premier’s Priority 12: Improving government services

• Implement a stakeholder relationship management system and integrate with core regulatory systems to help streamline processes, manage interactions and improve our understanding of stakeholder engagement


Measures

• The community reports an increase in satisfaction with environmental protection in NSW (stakeholder surveys)• Increased overall satisfaction in the levels of consultation by the EPA (stakeholder surveys)• Where surveys of the community are undertaken, the EPA always considers and responds to feedback

Outcome

7.1 Innovation A formal approach and methodology, and tools and techniques for initiating and managing innovation are implemented throughout the EPA

Action

Measure

• Above sector average results achieved on questions related to agency innovation in the People Matter Employee Survey• 15% of staff have been trained in use of the Innovation Toolkit.

Our culture emphasises ethical conduct. We deliver best practice corporate governance, leading staff development and enviable career opportunities. We incorporate the attributes of high-performing organisations, including workforce capability and diversity, employee engagement (including culture and conduct), leadership, support services, sustainable performance and innovation. We treat our customers with respect, providing a great experience in all our dealings with them.Completed:• We performed well in the NSW Public Sector Commission’s People Matter Employee Survey with a high staff engagement result.

• We use the results from this survey to continually improve our organisation.


• Protect communities affected by environmental issues and emerging problems by establishing a panel of independent experts to provide advice

• Develop an innovation strategy, train staff in the use of the Innovation Toolkit and establish a staff network to share experiences

• Identify ongoing and strategic knowledge needs and include them in the Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH) knowledge management strategy

• Retain staff and corporate memory by recognising the value of

employee knowledge and rewarding it• Collect, collate and analyse information and data from a range of

sources to inform innovation across the EPA • Encourage staff to participate in initiatives facilitated by AELERT

(the Australasian Environmental Law Enforcement and Regulators Network), a professional network for environmental regulators

• The Innovation Toolkit has been applied to business challenges by multiple EPA business areas

7: Exemplary and innovative organisation



Outcome

7.2 Workforce capability The EPA maintains a highly capable workforce. Authorised officers are trained and capable of fulfilling the role of authorised officer

Action

Measures

• 95% of EPA staff have an up-to-date performance, development and feedback plan• 100% of new staff undertake the induction program within six months of starting work • 75% retention rate for graduates

Outcome

7.3 Employee engagement Our people are passionate about their work and feel a connection with the EPA

Action

• Encourage staff to participate in the People Matter Employee Survey, and to discuss and act on the results to improve performance

Measure

• Staff satisfaction with ‘working in the EPA’ and the ‘staff engagement index’ are at levels above the sector average reported in the People Matter Employee Survey

• Respond to environmental incidents and emerging issues with a trained, agile and mobile workforce

• Nominate leaders for the Public Sector Commission’s NSW Leadership Academy

• Ensure role profiles and role descriptions are competency-based • Establish a mentoring program for new managers• Continue the graduate program to attract and retain graduates to

work for the EPA

• Support the development of science specialist expert knowledge and work with OEH Science to ensure that their workforce capability also supports EPA’s science needs

• Maintain a technical and operational training program• Gain certification as a training provider for delivery of the EPA

Environmental Auditor Training Course



Outcome

7.4 Workplace diversity The EPA workforce reflects the diversity of the wider community

Action

Measures

• Net annual increase in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff employed by the EPA• Women comprise 50% of the EPA executive by 2021• Staff satisfaction with ability to access and use flexible work arrangements are at levels above the sector average reported in the People Matter

Employee Survey

Outcome

7.5 Work health and safety The EPA provides a healthy and safe workplace

Action

Measures

• Reduction in the lost time injury frequency rate• 100% of branches complete their annual work health and safety assessment


• Strengthen workforce planning capability with strategies for workforce diversity, including equal opportunity, gender equality and employment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff, disabled staff and mature age staff

• Implement the Disability Inclusion Action Plan and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Employment Strategy Multicultural Plan

• Support the Public Service Commission’s plan to make all government roles flexible as a priority by 2019

• Include best practice diversity requirements; for example, with disability access and breastfeeding facilities

• Strive to achieve high levels of workplace health and safety practices through the OEH and EPA Work Health and Safety Strategy and Policy, regular job safety analyses and internal policies

• Establish active work health and safety committees• Ensure all branches complete an annual work health and

safety assessment

• Actively participate in the CareerTrackers Indigenous Internship Program

• Support the OEH and EPA Spokeswomen’s Program, Young Professionals Network, Aboriginal Network and The Rainbow Connection cluster-wide network

• Encourage Staff and Executive participation in Inclusion and Diversity Committee events and initiatives

• Include delivery of workplace diversity in the terms of reference for the Diversity and People Strategy and Culture committees




Outcome

7.6 Governance The EPA is fiscally responsible and delivers measurable outcomes

Action

Measures

• Six-monthly reviews of the EPA’s risk register show an improvement in the overall level of identified risk • 100% of complaints against staff are investigated and finalised within six months of referral to the EPA• Above sector average results achieved on questions related to statements about integrity in the People Matter Employee Survey• Financial results are within 1% of the approved budget

Outcome

7.7 Legal services The EPA is provided with high-quality and practical legal advice and assistance in relation to all aspects of EPA legislation and issues affecting EPA activities

Action

• Communicate the EPA Code of Ethics and Conduct to all staff• Implement targeted management plans to reduce the

likelihood of operational risks occurring• Ensure there is clear reporting on the EPA’s performance and

delivery of the NSW Government commitments under government reporting frameworks

• Work with the NSW Government to implement a financial transformation framework

• Maintain transparency and objectivity via an independent Finance, Audit and Risk Committee

• Ensure the EPA is managed effectively, efficiently and within budget• Identify, assess and prepare for risks involved in moving the EPA

head office to Parramatta

• Deliver quality and timely legal services• Provide full, frank and independent legal advice to ensure

staff are supported in making effective regulatory decisions• Train and educate EPA staff to support the development of relevant

legal, investigation and law enforcement skills

• The EPA’s legislation program is managed to reflect NSW Government priorities

• All EPA litigation is conducted in accordance with relevant prosecutor’s or solicitor’s duties and Model Litigant Policy

Outcome

7.8 Sustainability performance The EPA is committed to improving sustainability performance

Action

Measures

• Consistent performance is achieved against the targets set out in the Office of Environment and Heritage and Environment Protection Authority Sustainability Strategy 2015–20


Outcome

7.9 Support services EPA business processes are efficient and effective

Action

Measures

• Prioritised and funded ICT projects are delivered on time and on budget• Business cases for ICT strategic projects are developed and submitted to Treasury within the budget timetable• 90% of licensing applications and annual returns are submitted online through eConnect by end 2019–20

• Contribute to the OEH/EPA sustainability scorecard to enable clear reporting

• Report against the Government Resource Efficiency Policy requirements as part of the OEH report on an annual basis

• Improve performance in accordance with the current OEH and EPA Sustainability Strategy

• Work with DPE and OEH to update and finalise a new cluster-wide sustainability strategy

• Implement key Information Communications Technology (ICT) strategic initiatives, including the Regulatory Systems Transformation Project as identified in the EPA’s ICT program for 2017–20

• Ensure ICT projects meet their agreed scope, budget and timeframes • Develop and submit business cases according to NSW Treasury

guidelines for large ICT initiatives (>$1 million) and meet the Treasury timelines

• Deliver eConnect projects to improve accessibility to EPA services• Review the EPA’s Shared Services Agreement with the NSW

Government Planning and Environment Cluster



The EPA’s headline indicator is scored out of 100 based on progress of 10 program indicators with targets aligned with NSW Treasury’s stable rating.

The 10 program indicators are:

Output indicator

1. High-risk licences visited twice a year (annual)

2. High-risk native forestry operations assessed for compliance against the native forestry regulations and guidelines (quarterly)

Effectiveness indicator

3. New contaminated sites assessed and prioritised within four months of notification where sufficient information is available (quarterly)

4. Improvement in the index for average air quality in NSW as measured by the Office of Environment and Heritage (annual)

5. Volume of littered items reduced (annual)

6. Recycling rates increased for municipal solid waste, commercial and industrial waste, and construction and demolition waste (annual)

7. Businesses and their drivers understand and demonstrate best practice transport of hazardous substances (survey - annual)

8. Environment protection licence conditions complied with (annual)

9. Illegal dumping reduced (annual)

Efficiency indicator

10. The EPA responds or decides on appropriate action within 30 minutes of being notified of an environmental incident (quarterly)

The EPA reports in the NSW Government’s budget papers with a headline indicator that reflects its vision and purpose. Headline Indicator: Credible regulation and reduction of pollution and waste, and protection of human health.

EPA’s headline indicator reported to NSW Treasury

EPA officer measuring a tree Brent Mail Photography/EPA

© 2018 State of NSW and the NSW Environment Protection Authority

With the exception of photographs, the State of NSW and the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) are pleased to allow this material to be reproduced in whole or in part for educational and non-commercial use, provided the meaning is unchanged and its source, publisher and authorship are acknowledged. Specific permission is required for the reproduction of photographs.

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information in this document is accurate at the time of publication. However, as appropriate, readers should obtain independent advice before making any decision based on this information.

All content in this publication is owned by the EPA and is protected by Crown Copyright, unless credited otherwise. It is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0), subject to the exemptions contained in the licence. The legal code for the licence is available at Creative Commons.

The EPA asserts the right to be attributed as author of the original material in the following manner: © State of New South Wales and the NSW Environment Protection Authority 2018.

Cover: Shoreline rock pools, ocean waves and sky, Austinmer;Photo: Caz Nowaczyk/EPA.

Published by:NSW Environment Protection Authority59 Goulburn Street, Sydney NSW 2000PO Box A290, Sydney South NSW 1232Phone: +61 2 9995 5000 (switchboard)Phone: 131 555 (NSW only – environment information and publications requests)Fax: +61 2 9995 5999TTY users: phone 133 677, then ask for 131 555Speak and listen users: phone 1300 555 727, then ask for 131 555Email: [email protected] Website: www.epa.nsw.gov.au

www.epa.nsw.gov.auReport pollution and environmental incidentsEnvironment Line: 131 555 (NSW only) or [email protected] also www.epa.nsw.gov.auISBN 978 1 925790 53 5EPA 2018P1011September 2018

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