❓ Hon Robin Chapple questions the Minister for the Environment and Heritage regarding the review of the Department of Environmental Protection's enforcement policy and alleged breaches by Total Waste Management (TWM). The Minister provides updates on the policy review and clarifies TWM's waste treatment volume.
AnsweredQoN 578Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to question without notice of which some notice has been given No. 586 of Tuesday, March 4 2003 -
(1) Can the Minister state how many months the Department of Environmental Protection enforcement policy has been under review?
(2) If no to (1), why not?
(3) Can the Minister state a date on which the new enforcement policy will be completed?
(4) If no to (3), why not?
(5) Will the Minister table a copy of the new enforcement policy?
(6) If no to (5), why not?
(7) Can the Minister explain how the Minister can make a statement that Total Waste Management ‘TWM has to operate within the conditions of its licence and DEP will be conducting regular inspections to enforce these conditions’ which is highly contradictory given that TWM has been repeatedly allowed to breach licence conditions and as a result operate outside its conditions of licence on several occasions?
(8) If no to (7), why not?
(1) Can the Minister state how many months the Department of Environmental Protection enforcement policy has been under review?
(2) If no to (1), why not?
(3) Can the Minister state a date on which the new enforcement policy will be completed?
(4) If no to (3), why not?
(5) Will the Minister table a copy of the new enforcement policy?
(6) If no to (5), why not?
(7) Can the Minister explain how the Minister can make a statement that Total Waste Management ‘TWM has to operate within the conditions of its licence and DEP will be conducting regular inspections to enforce these conditions’ which is highly contradictory given that TWM has been repeatedly allowed to breach licence conditions and as a result operate outside its conditions of licence on several occasions?
(8) If no to (7), why not?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
6 May 2003
Responded by
Minister for Housing and Works representing the Minister for the Environment and Heritage
Response time
47 days
The Minister for the Environment and Heritage has provided the following response.
(1) The review commenced in August 2002 and has been conducted in conjunction with the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Stakeholder Reference Group. The final report, together with a model policy has now been received and referred to the Stakeholder Reference Group for further consultation. Work has commenced on the development of an enforcement matrix which when completed will also be referred to the Stakeholder Reference Group for comment. The enforcement review and model policy was released on Friday 4 April 2003.
(2) Not applicable.
(3) Once the comment period has passed and the comments evaluated, a new enforcement policy will be released.
(4) Not applicable.
(5) I table a copy of the model enforcement policy developed by Dr Brian Robinson, the reviewer. See tabled paper.
(6) Not applicable.
(7) Yes. In regards to the question without notice No 586 (Tuesday March 4, 2003) clarification was being sought on the ability of Total Waste Management to treat additional waste. The Minister has been advised that Total Waste Management treated less than 20,000 tonnes of waste in 2002, significantly less that the licensed limit of 85,000 tonnes per annum.
However, it is the obligation of Total Waste Management to comply with the conditions of their licence, as it is an offence under Section 62 of the
Environmental Protection Act 1986
to contravene a licence condition. Any offences will be treated in accordance with the DEP’s enforcement policy.
(8) Not applicable
(1) The review commenced in August 2002 and has been conducted in conjunction with the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Stakeholder Reference Group. The final report, together with a model policy has now been received and referred to the Stakeholder Reference Group for further consultation. Work has commenced on the development of an enforcement matrix which when completed will also be referred to the Stakeholder Reference Group for comment. The enforcement review and model policy was released on Friday 4 April 2003.
(2) Not applicable.
(3) Once the comment period has passed and the comments evaluated, a new enforcement policy will be released.
(4) Not applicable.
(5) I table a copy of the model enforcement policy developed by Dr Brian Robinson, the reviewer. See tabled paper.
(6) Not applicable.
(7) Yes. In regards to the question without notice No 586 (Tuesday March 4, 2003) clarification was being sought on the ability of Total Waste Management to treat additional waste. The Minister has been advised that Total Waste Management treated less than 20,000 tonnes of waste in 2002, significantly less that the licensed limit of 85,000 tonnes per annum.
However, it is the obligation of Total Waste Management to comply with the conditions of their licence, as it is an offence under Section 62 of the
Environmental Protection Act 1986
to contravene a licence condition. Any offences will be treated in accordance with the DEP’s enforcement policy.
(8) Not applicable
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