Question asks if the Environmental Enforcement Unit will investigate residential developers who flout environmental requirements under the 'industry' category. The answer confirms the unit will undertake enforcement action within the Department's jurisdiction, including residential developers.

AnsweredQoN 1142Legislative Assembly
Asked
27 February 2003
Portfolio
the Environment and Heritage

QuestionView source ↗

(b) will the Environmental Enforcement Unit investigations include residential developers who flout environmental requirements set out in planning application approvals under the category of ‘industry’?
Providing this licence review will boost the current licensing functions by allowing existing staff to focus on their core roles. The unit should not be seen as replacing existing licensing activities and licence holders should continue to deal with these officers in the day to day management of their licences. Clearly, the relationship between this unit and licensing officers is critical. The unit must be seen as an extension of regulatory activities while being complementary to the licensing and inspection functions. (b) The unit will only undertake enforcement action in relation to matters within the Department’s jurisdiction, whether these involve residential developers or others. The Unit will not deal with offences under other legislation.
Clearly, the relationship between this unit and licensing officers is critical. The unit must be seen as an extension of regulatory activities while being complementary to the licensing and inspection functions. (b) The unit will only undertake enforcement action in relation to matters within the Department’s jurisdiction, whether these involve residential developers or others. The Unit will not deal with offences under other legislation.
(b) The unit will only undertake enforcement action in relation to matters within the Department’s jurisdiction, whether these involve residential developers or others. The Unit will not deal with offences under other legislation.

AnswerView source ↗

Answered
1 April 2003
Responded by
Minister for the Environment and Heritage
Response time
33 days
(a) The establishment of this unit is part of a strategy to extend and support the environmental regulation function and water resource management of the Department. It will be established as a specialist support unit that will work in partnership with other work areas to ensure high standards are achieved in regulatory instruments, that compliance is encouraged and enforcement action is efficiently undertaken whenever appropriate. Its focus will be on the need for enforcement action in response to environmental damage or breach of statutory approvals. However, an important adjunct to this role is to review licences and approvals to ensure that they are enforceable and in so doing facilitate consistency, clarity and policy formulation.
Providing this licence review will boost the current licensing functions by allowing existing staff to focus on their core roles. The unit should not be seen as replacing existing licensing activities and licence holders should continue to deal with these officers in the day to day management of their licences.
Clearly, the relationship between this unit and licensing officers is critical. The unit must be seen as an extension of regulatory activities while being complementary to the licensing and inspection functions.
(b) The unit will only undertake enforcement action in relation to matters within the Department’s jurisdiction, whether these involve residential developers or others. The Unit will not deal with offences under other legislation.

Explore WA Government Data

Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.

Explore more