Nepc annual Report 2014-15

Contents

Chair’s Foreword 3

Contents 5

Executive Officer’s Report 6

Overview 7

Assessment of the Implementation and Effectiveness of NEPMs 9

National Environment Protection
(Air Toxics) Measure 10

National Environment Protection (Ambient Air Quality) Measure 13

National Environment Protection (Assessment of Site Contamination) Measure 15

National Environment Protection (Diesel Vehicle Emissions) Measure 18

National Environment Protection (Movement of Controlled Waste between States and Territories) Measure 20

National Environment Protection (National Pollutant Inventory) Measure 27

National Environment Protection (Used Packaging Materials) Measure 30

Appendices 33

Appendix 1: 34

Jurisdictional Reports on the Implementation and Effectiveness of the
Air Toxics NEPM 34

Commonwealth 35

New South Wales 35

Victoria 36

Queensland 36

Western Australia 39

South Australia 40

Tasmania 40

Australian Capital Territory 41

Northern Territory 41

Appendix 2: 43

Jurisdictional Reports on the Implementation and Effectiveness of the Ambient Air Quality NEPM 43

Commonwealth 44

New South Wales 45

Victoria 52

Queensland 55

Western Australia 59

South Australia 62

Tasmania 65

Australian Capital Territory 69

Northern Territory 71

Appendix 3: 73

Jurisdictional Reports on the Implementation and Effectiveness of the
Assessment of Site Contamination NEPM 73

Commonwealth 74

New South Wales 75

Victoria 76

Queensland 77

Western Australia 80

South Australia 81

Tasmania 82

Australian Capital Territory 83

Northern Territory 84

Appendix 4: 85

Jurisdictional Reports on the Implementation and Effectiveness of the Diesel Vehicle Emissions NEPM 85

Commonwealth 86

New South Wales 87

Victoria 91

Queensland 93

Western Australia 95

South Australia 98

Tasmania 99

Australian Capital Territory 100

Northern Territory 101

Appendix 5: 102

Jurisdictional Reports on the Implementation and Effectiveness of the Movement of Controlled Waste between States and Territories NEPM 102

Commonwealth 103

New South Wales 104

Victoria 106

Queensland 108

Western Australia 110

South Australia 112

Tasmania 114

Australian Capital Territory 116

Northern Territory 118

Appendix 6: 120

Jurisdictional Reports on the Implementation and Effectiveness of the
National Pollutant Inventory NEPM 120

Commonwealth 121

New South Wales 123

Victoria 125

Queensland 126

Western Australia 127

South Australia 129

Tasmania 131

Australian Capital Territory 132

Northern Territory 133

Appendix 7: 134

Jurisdictional Reports on the Implementation and Effectiveness of the
Used Packaging Materials NEPM 134

Commonwealth 135

New South Wales 137

Victoria 138

Queensland 139

Western Australia 140

South Australia 141

Tasmania 142

Australian Capital Territory 145

Northern Territory 147

Executive Officer’s Report

The support work for the National Environment Protection Council (NEPC) in 2014–15 was undertaken during a period of substantial organisational change. NEPC is now being supported by a business services team of a few officers within the Australian Government Department of the Environment, instead of a larger, NEPC Service Corporation. This change required a consolidation and prioritisation of NEPC functions and activities.

Work has continued on projects that will help to ensure people enjoy the benefit of equivalent national protection from air, water, soil or noise pollution, including on issues such as the variation to the National Environment Protection (Ambient Air Quality) Measure, a document that will play a significant role in the National Clean Air Agreement and associated strategies.

One of the many legacy issues associated with the abolition of the Standing Council on the Environment and Water in 2013, and the subsequent abolition of the NEPC Service Corporation in 2014, was the ongoing management of funds contributed for a number of non-NEPC environmental projects. In addition to the provision of business services for NEPC related projects, the NEPC business services team is also responsible for providing assistance to Commonwealth, state and territory project officers responsible for delivering this legacy work programme.

The team acts to ensure efficiency and accountability when providing business services to NEPC and its associated state and territory agencies undertaking work on behalf of NEPC. This has been a key focus of the team’s work during this period. For example, it has commenced development of a revised NEPC governance handbook, due for completion in the first quarter of 2016, and has been exploring a better system to manage and track the progress of NEPC projects and funds.

I look forward to my role in 2015–16, and will continue implementing the necessary governance reforms that commenced under my predecessor, Mr Consul O’Reilly, who I would like to thank for his hard work and dedication in the role of acting Executive Officer in the 2014–15 financial year.

I would also like to thank all NEPC stakeholders for their ongoing support during 2014–15.

Dr David Swanton
NEPC Executive Officer