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2020/21
Annual Report
Leading through
change.
Preparing Victorians for new
environment protection laws
400+ Contents
Activities and
events to support
awareness and compliance
01 Declaration 2
3,000+ 1,000+ 02 About EPA Victoria and this Annual Report
03 Chair’s report
3
4
Registrations with
Organisations EPA’s Industry 04 Chief Executive Officer’s report 5
engaged Partnership Program
+13,000 05 How EPA works
06 Our response to the pandemic
7
8
Webinar views (on EPA’s
YouTube channel) 07 2020–21 performance 10
08 Financial performance summary 54
09 Organisational structure and governance arrangements 55
10 Occupational health and safety 62
Preventing
environmental harm
11 Workforce data 65
12 Other disclosures 69
18,121 13
14
Definitions
Disclosure index
83
85
26% increase
on 2019-20 487 9,115 15 Responsible body’s declaration 87
Pollution reports Pollution abatement Fines for 16 Independent Auditor’s Report 88
from community notices issued environmental
offences 17 How these financial statements are structured 90
18 Comprehensive Operating Statement 91
2,595 22 19 Balance Sheet
20 Statement of Changes in Equity
92
93
Inspections Prosecutions
21 Cash Flow Statement 94
22 Notes to the Financial Statements 95
Our Zero Tolerance
Fire Prevention 352 All images in this annual report were taken in accordance with relevant public health measures at the time.
Program inspections
across 213 sites
Cover images: Top: EPA officers inspect the Broderick Road cleanup site. This clean-up will see the removal
and safe disposal of approximately 335,000m3 of waste and is on track for completion by mid-2022.
11
Bottom left: A Senior Environment Protection Officer attends the August 2020 MRI Battery Recycling fire
in Campbellfield to monitor fire fighting run-off quality.
Bottom right: Supporting local businesses to understand their obligations under Victoria’s new
comprehensive environment laws.
fire investigations
Fire Revised
prevention guidelines 43%
onsite posters for combustible of inspected sites
translated into recyclable and issued with a notice
five languages waste materials or sanction referral EPA Annual Report 2020/21 1
01 Declaration 02 About EPA Victoria
and this Annual Report
In accordance with the Financial Management Act 1994, we are pleased to present Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPA)
Our purpose
Environment Protection Authority Victoria’s Annual Report for the year ending 30 June 2021. is an independent statutory authority under the
Environment Protection Act 2017. EPA’s Governing We protect the environment and people by
Board is responsible for the governance, strategic preventing and reducing harm from pollution
planning and pursuit of EPA’s objective — to protect and waste.
human health and the environment by reducing the
harmful effects of pollution and waste. EPA is part of Our values
the portfolio of the Hon. Lily D’Ambrosio MP, Minister
Successful implementation of EPA’s
for Energy, Environment and Climate Change and
organisational strategy, Our environment,
Minister for Solar Homes.
Our health, requires every staff member to live
Professor Kate Auty Mr Lee Miezis
our values. These values, applied consistently
Chair Chief Executive Officer Our vision by our people in our interactions with Victorians,
Responsible Body Accountable Officer
A healthy environment that supports a liveable will deliver one experience of EPA.
Melbourne Melbourne and prosperous Victoria now and always. In addition to being exemplars of the Victorian
1 November 2021 1 November 2021
Public Service values, EPA’s values are:
Our strategic goals
To do our part in creating a healthy environment,
Excellence
we focus on five goals: › We focus effort for best result
1. Prevent harm: We prevent harm from pollution › We are evidence and risk based
and waste by leveraging good environmental › We learn from experience
performance across community, business
and government.
› We are agile and innovative.
2. Equip community and business: We support Partnership
Victorians to understand the condition of their › We support each other
environment and we work to ensure shared
responsibility is accepted and understood
› We welcome diversity
by community and business. › We listen and learn
3. Be an influential authority: We are a trusted › We involve people in decisions that affect them.
source of advice on Victoria’s environment Accountability
and influential in working with others to
address complex problems resulting from › We do what we say we will
pollution and waste. › We make timely decisions
4. Respond to harm: We hold polluters to account › We use sound judgement
and work with our partners to respond to › We are transparent and objective.
pollution, emergency incidents and legacy
contamination to minimise harm to Victoria’s Definitions
environment and people.
Scientific and technical terms used in this
5. Organisational excellence: As an organisation, annual report are defined on page 83.
we commit to delivering on our goals by
enabling a high-performance culture that
values our people and supports them with
EPA publications
fit-for-purpose systems and expertise. All publications referred to in this Annual Report can
be accessed at www.epa.vic.gov.au/publications
EPA acknowledges Aboriginal people as the first peoples and Traditional custodians of the
land and water on which we live, work and depend. We pay respect to Aboriginal Elders
past and present. As Victoria’s environmental regulator, we pay respect to how Country has
been protected and cared for by Aboriginal people over many tens of thousands of years.
We acknowledge the unique spiritual and cultural significance of land, water and all that
is in the environment to Aboriginal people and Traditional custodians – and the continuing
connection and aspirations for Country.
2 EPA Annual Report 2020/21 3
03 Chair’s report 04 Chief Executive Officer’s report
As Victorians navigated the challenges of a global pandemic and a year of 2020-21 marked a year of change and uncertainty as we continued to navigate
significant uncertainty, our focus on Leading through Change could not be the global pandemic.
more relevant.
For EPA, this called for new ways to deliver our This program resulted in more than 360
This year marked a significant milestone for EPA, with the commencement of new laws that services and a focus on supporting our people, inspections across 200 sites since January, with
provide us with the regulatory tools and powers to be more agile and support our focus of vulnerable communities and government our officers addressing hazards and unsafe
proactively working with others to reduce the risk of harm from pollution and waste before partners involved in responding to coronavirus practices such as oversized and poorly separated
it occurs. (COVID-19). waste stockpiles, as well as a lack of fire
The year also saw the conclusion of our prevention and firefighting controls.
This shift to preventative action in our regulatory focus required extensive engagement
with stakeholders to explain our new legislation in the context of their operations. Due to the multi-year transformation program with the In June, we launched a Regional Sensor Pilot
pandemic, this engagement took new forms, including online webinars and live question and commencement of the Environment Protection Project to report on the levels of fine particles less
answer sessions. Act 2017 on 1 July 2021 — new laws that equip EPA than 2.5 micrometres in diameter (PM2.5) in the air
with stronger and more contemporary regulatory from sources such as smoke in an additional 49
I would like to acknowledge and thank our former Chief Executive Officer, Dr Cathy Wilkinson,
powers to prevent harm to communities and the regional Victorian towns.
for her tremendous contribution during her five years with EPA and welcome incoming Chief
environment from pollution and waste. This rollout complemented the 41 existing
Executive Officer, Mr Lee Miezis, who joined us in February.
monitoring sites across Melbourne, Geelong
It was also with some sadness — but also great pride — that EPA farewelled Victoria’s inaugural Supporting Victoria’s coronavirus and the Latrobe Valley, as well as the Victoria
Chief Environmental Scientist, Dr Andrea Hinwood, following her appointment as Chief Scientist response State Emergency Service community smoke
with the United Nations Environment Programme.
As part of the Victorian Government’s response monitoring program and EPA’s incident air
I look forward to working with our new Chief Environmental Scientist, Professor Mark Patrick to the pandemic, EPA supported industry and monitoring capacity.
Taylor, who joined us in July from Macquarie University where he was Professor of Environmental business compliance through participation in a
Science and Human Health, specialising in environmental contamination. multi-agency surveillance program focused on Responding to harm
I also acknowledge our Governing Board for their commitment and ongoing support to me in my high-risk industries. Key to compliance was our Throughout the year, EPA responded to 104
capacity as chair. In October 2020 we welcomed Ms Kay Rundle, an accomplished business leader oversight of clinical waste treatment and disposal emergency incidents (almost double the number
and chair of both the Public Transport Ombudsman and Western Leisure Services. A special facilities and secondary storage sites. of incidents in 2019–20) and 14 major incidents,
thank you to former board member, Professor Rebekah Brown, for her contribution to EPA. We also partnered with the Department of including crisis management and compliance
Finally, I want to thank our many stakeholders and the community for their support, and our Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) support for Victoria’s pandemic response, fires
people at EPA for their resilience during a year of unprecedented change. and the Municipal Association of Victoria to at waste and recycling sites, and wastewater
manage onsite domestic wastewater systems, treatment plant pollution.
Notwithstanding the challenges of the past year, EPA continues to protect both the health of our
and developed noise pollution guidance in Following Victoria’s bushfires in 2019–20, work
environment and our community from the harmful effects of pollution and waste — fundamental
response to the increase in people working from continued to safely remove and dispose of
work for Victoria’s future prosperity and liveability.
home, as well as extended hours of operation waste materials in Gippsland and the state’s
I eagerly anticipate the year ahead as we continue to work together with, and on behalf of, for essential services and important projects. northeast region.
all Victorians. This guidance was used by DELWP and Local
EPA was also part of a working group established
Government Victoria to shape policy and
to achieve consistency across states and
communications approaches more broadly.
territories in air quality categories and
messaging by the Commonwealth Government’s
Preventing harm to our community
Environmental Health Standing Committee.
In 2020–21, EPA continued work on several
cleanups of high-risk sites, including Broderick Preparation for 1 July
Professor Kate Auty
Road at Lara, which is due for completion in
Chair With the 1 July introduction of Victoria’s new
mid-2022.
Environment Protection Authority Victoria environment protection laws, EPA engaged
About 200 tonnes of hazardous waste was extensively with Victorian industry and business
1 November 2021
removed from an illegal chemical waste dump through reference groups and online webinars.
at Lemon Springs in Victoria’s Wimmera region
As part of our Business Support Model, we
as part of a remediation project that started
launched a Small Business Program pilot to
in March.
educate small to medium-sized businesses on
Early this year, EPA launched a Fire Prevention their obligations under our new laws.
Program to respond to the high risk of fires at
waste and resource recovery facilities.
4 EPA Annual Report 2020/21 5
04 Chief Executive Officer’s report
continued
05 How EPA works
This program was developed with the support of Thank you EPA is an independent statutory authority. The principal environmental legislation in
the Victorian Automobile Chamber of Commerce Victoria we operated under during 2020–21 was the Environment Protection Act 1970.
I would like to acknowledge our former Chief
and the Drycleaning Institute of Australia and
Executive Officer, Dr Cathy Wilkinson, who left This Act defines EPA’s powers, duties and functions, and provides a framework for the
included participation by 75 dry-cleaning,
automotive repair and maintenance and body
EPA in early January 2021, and thank her for her prevention and control of air, land and water pollution, industrial noise and waste.
leadership and contribution to the organisation.
repair businesses.
I look forward to building on her work and
To support compliance, onboarding for a new During this financial year there were two other The responsible Minister for the 2020–21 reporting
commitment to Victoria’s environment
GPS-enabled waste tracking system, Waste relevant environment protection acts: the period was the Hon. Lily D’Ambrosio MP, Minister
and community.
Tracker, commenced in May. As of 1 July, more Environment Protection Act 2017, which sets out for Energy, Environment and Climate Change
Thank you to our board members for their our governance structure and objectives, and the and Minister for Solar Homes.
than 500 businesses had registered, including
invaluable guidance and support during a Environment Protection Amendment Act 2018,
more than 80 per cent of high-volume users. EPA works closely with portfolio partners —
challenging year. Going forward, a key goal which introduces many key reforms to Victoria’s
This year also saw the development of a new Department of Environment, Land, Water and
for EPA’s Governing Board and executive environment protection legislation. From 1 July
digital notifications tool that enables EPA to triage Planning and Sustainability Victoria — to develop
management is delivering our roles and 2021, the 1970 Act was repealed and the EPA now
notifications of contaminated land and focus our environment protection policy and legislation
responsibilities under the new Environment operates under the 2017 Act (as amended by
regulatory efforts based on risk of harm. and deliver programs that support protection
Protection Act, implementing our operating the 2018 Act). of the environment.
Under the new laws, anyone in management model planned for the first quarter of 2021–22,
EPA engages and works with community and EPA also works closely with local government and
or control of contaminated land is required to and achieving our aspiration of being a
industry across Victoria. We have regional other Victorian Government departments and
minimise risks of harm to human health and the world-class regulator in protecting Victorian
offices in Bendigo, Dandenong, Geelong, Preston, regulators to achieve better environmental and
environment so far as reasonably practicable communities and the environment from the
Sunshine, Traralgon and Wangaratta. EPA’s health outcomes and ensure better long-term
and to notify EPA if land is contaminated in impacts of pollution and waste.
Centre for Applied Sciences is located in economic development. These include WorkSafe
certain circumstances. Finally, my thanks to EPA’s people for their Macleod. Our central office is located at Victoria, the Department of Health (formerly the
A key priority for EPA was also building the resilience and unwavering commitment to our 200 Victoria Street, Carlton. Department of Health and Human Services) and
regulatory capability of our people, with 92 per work during a year of tremendous change to
emergency services.
cent of our authorised officers completing a the lives of all Victorians.
learning and development program in the lead- I look forward to the year ahead as we continue
up to 1 July. This program combined face-to-face to adapt to new ways of working, embrace
and virtual classroom sessions, coaching with opportunities and deliver services that meet
mentors, webinars, digital learning, workplace- the needs of our community and environment
based practice and assessment. in a rapidly changing and evolving world.
Lee Miezis
Chief Executive Officer
Environment Protection Authority Victoria
1 November 2021
6 EPA Annual Report 2020/21 7
06 Our response to the pandemic
EPA staff actively supported our internal Agency › Providing a quarterly waste crime report on
Command team and whole-of-government high-risk waste sites
response to the pandemic which included: › Providing targeted communications (fact
› Providing regular intelligence summaries sheets and posters) for aged care waste
about coronavirus impacts on EPA’s regulatory management and wastewater authorities.
landscape During 2020–21, working from home was the
› Identifying sites of concern and adapting default option for our workforce. Initiatives were
the risk assessment approach to include implemented to support the physical and mental
coronavirus-specific risk attributes health of our people as they continued to deliver
our regulatory services.
This image was taken in accordance with relevant public health measures at the time.
CLINICAL WASTE
Clinical waste increased significantly in 2020–21 across workplaces, aged care › Additional guidance for industry and the › Direct advice to clinical waste transporters
community about clinical waste management and treaters.
centres and hospitals, leading to risks of stockpiling and mismanagement and and temporary storage applications We have continued to collaborate with the
the potential for illegal waste disposal. This followed the declaration of a State
of Emergency in Victoria on 16 March 2020 in response to the pandemic.
› Delivery of online training on waste Department of Environment, Land, Water and
management for aged care and disability Planning and other agencies to inform the
facilities State Government’s broader oversight of clinical
As Victoria’s environmental regulator, EPA’s related to the coronavirus health response. › Updated web pages and social media content waste issues.
oversight of clinical waste treatment and disposal Coronavirus (COVID-19): Disposing of PPE at home with advice for generators, transporters and
facilities, and secondary storage sites increased and in the workplace was used by households and treaters of clinical waste
markedly. workplaces using personal protective equipment
We expedited emergency approvals and permit and workplaces undergoing a deep clean.
requests to enable more transport and storage We also participated in webinars for health care,
capacity for clinical waste waiting for treatment aged care and disability services and participated
and disposal and developed new conditions
under section 30A of our legislation to support
onsite volume reporting.
in waste sector meetings facilitated by the Minister
Energy, Environment and Climate Change. Waste
management
39 additional
What we delivered waste transport vehicles
Through industry engagement we found
that many aged care facilities were taking a › A rapid deployment of additional authorised achievements
conservative approach to categorising waste and transport and storage capacity for clinical
disposing food waste and small furniture items as waste, including:
clinical waste. • 39 additional transport vehicles Clinical waste storage
Workplaces without cases were also eager to
dispose of masks, gloves and other personal
• Storage for an additional 215 tonnes and for an additional
35 shipping containers (equating to about
215
protective equipment. 1,000 cubic metres)
As a result, EPA developed new guidance to • Increased capacity for safe treatment
30 tonnes
support better decision making around what and disposal
constitutes clinical waste and personal protective
• Interstate waste movement approvals
equipment disposal in workplaces. Coronavirus
(COVID-19): Disposing clinical waste was used by
aged care facilities, disability services, workplaces
› Heightened regulatory oversight, including
inspections and monitoring
applications plus 35 shipping
containers
with confirmed coronavirus cases, community- › Improved reporting requirements for to enable emergency waste
based health services and any other services emergency approvals management (transport,
storage and disposal/
treatment)
8 EPA Annual Report 2020/21 9
07 2020–21 performance
GOAL 1 Prevent harm
EPA’s work is guided by our We prevent harm from pollution and waste by leveraging good
environmental performance across community, business and government.
organisational strategy,
Our environment, Our health. Outcome 1.1
Regulatory effort delivers greatest
coronavirus medical waste, an avian flu outbreak
and flooding events.
In a Supreme Court determination relating to
preventative effect, informed by
Melbourne Regional Landfill, the court supported
2020–21 was the fourth year of the strategy’s implementation. science and intelligence. EPA’s approach in assessing applications for
Our annual plan sets out our delivery priorities according to our works approvals, including application of the
Works approval and statutory approval
five key goals: applications
State Environment Protection Policy (Air Quality
Management). It also supported EPA’s risk
Over the past year, EPA provided 22 works assessment in the absence of odour modelling
approvals. Of these, six were complex assessments or adequate odour modelling to inform the works
(one of which was ultimately withdrawn) involving approval process using field odour assessment
Great Southern Waste, Chunxing, GB Energy, techniques.
1. Prevent harm Longwarry Saleyard, Camperdown Compost and This year, EPA received three environment
AGL Crib Point. There were 52 works approval management plans for approval under the
exemptions, where it was determined that a works Environment Protection (Management of Tunnel
approval was not required. Boring Machine Spoil) Regulations 2020.
Works approvals allow individuals and Three companies (Hi-Quality Quarry Products,
businesses to conduct works or make changes Western Soil Treatment and Cleanaway
2. Equip community and business to their premises that may pose some risk
to the environment. They can be for building
Operations) submitted the plans as part of a
tender process, run by the joint venture building
construction, installing new plant equipment, or the West Gate Tunnel Project, to identify where
changing infrastructure, discharge or emission tunnel boring machine spoil from the project
limits, or work processes. would be taken.
In many cases, proposals received for works The plans were reviewed and approved on the
approvals are significantly improved through
3. Be an influential authority the application process, with applicants
basis EPA was satisfied they met strict conditions
designed to protect human health and the
required to clearly demonstrate how they will environment. The approvals were dependent on
achieve regulatory standards. Section 20B of additional detailed information being provided to
the Environment Protection Act 1970 allows us to EPA about the construction methods and quality
invite all or any interested parties to a conference control measures.
to assist in a just resolution of any matter. This
year, we completed several section 20B online Following legal action lodged against the approval
4. Respond to harm conferences to consider the views and concerns of the Western Soil Treatment environment
management plan and out of an abundance of
of communities and stakeholders in relation to
upcoming proposals. They enable us to explain caution, EPA determined it would be appropriate
the works approval application and assessment to void the original approvals and require all three
process, and the current status of a proposal. companies to resubmit applications incorporating
Participants can also ask questions and hear the additional information relating to construction
5. Organisational excellence about issues raised in submissions. methods and quality control measures. All three
companies submitted new plans and EPA again
Section 30A is an overriding provision of the Act. reviewed and approved them on the basis they
It allows EPA to authorise discharges, emissions, met the strict conditions.
storage, treatment, disposal and handling of
waste in emergencies and other temporary While EPA is not responsible for the ultimate
situations that would otherwise be an offence decision on where tunnel boring machine
under the Act. This year there were 81 section 30A spoil from the project will be taken, we will
This section of the annual report summarises EPA’s performance against our annual plan. closely monitor compliance with the approved
emergency decisions, many of which related to
10 EPA Annual Report 2020/21 11
07 2020–21 performance continued
BROOKLYN INDUSTRIAL PRECINCT
environment plans and hold any site receiving spoil was scientifically justified and considered an Efforts to improve air quality for the Under the new Act, EPA will continue to work with
from the West Gate Tunnel Project to account. appropriate list of potential contaminants. EPA has Brooklyn community in Melbourne’s all stakeholders to improve air quality for the
used the knowledge gained through this process to Brooklyn community. Future activities will include
We have also played a key role in assessing spoil western suburbs were boosted in
advise on similar aspects for Suburban Rail Loop communications and engagement to support
management plans for the North East Link Project, 2020–21 with a project focused on
and Melbourne Airport Rail projects. duty holders to understand and comply with the
ensuring that in situ classification of spoil material
dust emissions from material recycling new laws, while maintaining a strong regulatory
and container storage activities in the presence leveraging EPA’s new powers to drive
Brooklyn Industrial Precinct. improvements.
Hobsons Bay Council passed a motion to develop
Within this triangle-shaped precinct, bordered by a Brooklyn Air Quality Advocacy Plan, bringing
TRACKING REPORTABLE PRIORITY WASTE WITH WASTE TRACKER Kororoit Creek and Geelong and Somerville roads, together all parties responsible to address the
are more than 60 industries, including quarrying, issues that have impacted this community for
former landfill, abattoirs, material recycling, tallow so long.
producers, container storage and a variety of
This year, EPA prepared industry for Reportable priority waste is generally hazardous
small businesses from light industrial to retail
the introduction of our new GPS- and carries the highest levels of controls because
and manufacturing.
it poses the greatest risk to the community and
enabled waste tracking system, Waste EPA has 12 active remedial notices addressing
the environment. Anyone who handles reportable
Tracker. This system allows us to track priority waste will need to advise EPA every time it dust emissions with an estimated total cost of
hazardous waste movements in real changes hands. compliance of about $12.5 million. These notices
time and will enable early intervention Waste Tracker can be accessed via our EPA
related to the installation of controls to prevent:
and action by EPA and stakeholders. portal and the Waste Tracker mobile app. The › Dust from onsite traffic by sealing hard stands
The new environmental laws will demand stricter
portal opened in May so that waste producers, › Dust from materials-handling activities
transporters and receivers could log in and start
reporting about hazardous waste transport onboarding their drivers and staff ahead of 1 July.
› Mud tracking out onto public roads.
to protect Victorians and the environment We also released several guides that articulated In 2020–21, the daily standard for PM10 (particles
from harm due to mismanagement and illegal the steps required to perform transactions, such less than 10 micrometres in diameter) was
behaviour. They will raise the bar for hazardous as creating a waste record. achieved more frequently than in any other
waste management. Producers, accredited year. This improvement is thought to be due to
Building on previous engagement to support a combination of above-average rainfall and
consigners, transporters, drivers and receivers of
businesses to prepare for the introduction of the increased regulatory action.
reportable priority waste will be required to use
new system, EPA held a Waste Tracker webinar for
Waste Tracker to complete transactions.
600 industry members in February.
We also engaged directly with Victoria’s peak
industry bodies, the Victorian Waste Management Dust from truck movements on unsealed
Association, the Waste Management and roadways at a Brooklyn container storage site.
Resource Recovery Association, and Australian
Industry Group, further supporting industry to
register a Waste Tracker account in preparation
for the system’s commencement.
As of 1 July, more than 500 businesses — or 80
per cent of the businesses that represent 80
per cent of waste movements — had been fully
onboarded to use the Waste Tracker tool. More
than 2,000 new waste records were created,
assigned and received via Waste Tracker during
the first three days of July.
EPA prepared the waste industry for the introduction of
our new GPS-enabled waste tracking system — Waste
Tracker — through webinars, online resources and
direct engagement activities.
12 EPA Annual Report 2020/21 13
07 2020–21 performance continued
FIRE PREVENTION PROGRAM INCREASES DUTY HOLDER Chemical waste and recyclable materials Licensed Operator Risk Assessment
AWARENESS AND COMPLIANCE EPA coordinates statewide compliance and EPA successfully ran our Licensed Operator Risk
enforcement programs, targeting unsafe waste Assessment in April. This initiative is the driving
Since July 2017, EPA has conducted more than 1,300 inspections at management practices in the chemical waste force behind EPA’s Strategic Licence Compliance
high-risk resource recovery sites. and recyclable materials sector. Assessment Program, ensuring all sites that hold
We coordinated our response to complex an EPA licence are inspected based on an annual
The Fire Prevention Program, established in prevention-based program to reduce the number sites and entities to help them improve their assessment of the potential risk they pose to
January 2021, builds on this successful work and severity of fires by addressing their root performance. This included strategy development, human health and the environment. It provides a
program and responds to the high risk of fires at cause. To do this, EPA: tasking and coordination, technical leadership, consistent and transparent approach to prioritise
waste and resource recovery facilities. Since it delivering compliance and enforcement activities, our planned licence compliance inspections
• Works with industry, fire agencies and co-
was launched, the Fire Prevention Program has: and monitoring and evaluation of the overall based on the risk of each site and may include:
regulators to improve understanding of fire risk
› Conducted 352 inspections across 213 sites and the controls required to prevent fires effectiveness of interventions. We also responded › Intensive pig and poultry farming
› Issued 149 notices to ensure operators › Updates guidance to reflect the changing
to significant sector issues such as the sudden › Waste treatment and storage
departure of two major e-waste recyclers from the
are complying with waste management legislative settings and includes fire
national market.
› Paper, food and drink manufacturing
rules, reducing fire risk, and protecting our
environment and communities from harm
prevention principles
› Waste incineration activities
› Publishes materials (including posters in EPA also provided technical support for the
› Landfills
› Served 20 official warnings and 12 penalty multiple languages and website resources) development of new permission requirements
infringement notices and conducts proactive industry engagement and guidelines such as the Combustible › Printing
› Started 11 comprehensive investigations › Delivers a significant program of proactive
Recyclable Waste Material Guideline and the › Production and processing of metals
Battery Storage and Handling Guideline. and steels
› Issued 70 sanction referrals. site inspections
Industry has been put on notice that EPA has zero › Focuses on enforcement and action where › Cement and lime activities.
tolerance for deliberate non-compliance and practices are unsafe. Outcome 1.2 Landfill levies audit
unsafe waste management practices. EPA also worked with the Department of Regulatory effort supports good Every year, EPA receives quarterly and annual
The Fire Prevention Program initially focused on the Environment, Land, Water and Planning, Fire
performance, creates a level playing landfill levy statements from licensed landfills
metal recycling sector, because of serious fires at Rescue Victoria, independent fire prevention
specialists and fire management professionals
field and encourages continuous that receive waste. In 2020–21 we validated the
these types of facilities early this year. In March, it levy statements of all 51 landfills that receive
to review the causes of previous fires at waste improvement.
was extended to a wider group of high-risk facilities. waste. We also completed detailed assessments
and resource recovery sites and design future fire
Jointly delivered by EPA and the Department of New regulations for the new laws of all five annual recycling rebate claims and
prevention initiatives.
Environment, Land, Water and Planning, this is a conducted 10 comprehensive audits selected on
On 16 December 2020, proposed final versions
an intelligence-informed risk basis to ensure a
of the Environment Protection Regulations and
representative coverage of facilities. Underpaid
Environmental Reference Standard were released
waste levies of $80,862 were identified at three
on EPA’s website. This gave industry, business,
352
landfills and collected during this levy audit cycle.
Fire prevention government and the community six months to
become familiar with the subordinate legislation As part of the Victorian Government’s Recycling
achievements inspections
before its commencement alongside the new Act
on 1 July 2021.
Victoria policy, a review of the landfill levy audit
program was completed by December 2020. The
review involved an evaluation of current guidance
across 213 sites At the same time, the Environment Protection
and procedures, assessment of recent legislative
regulations and standards: Response to public
cases, consideration of additional powers
comment report was published by the Victorian
available under the Environment Protection Act,
Government. This responded to the key issues
11 Revised a comparison with interstate levy programs and
raised in more than 317 submissions received by
consultation with Victorian stakeholders. In all,
comprehensive
guidelines EPA in 2019 on the draft subordinate legislation.
Across the first half of 2021, EPA published
23 recommendations for program redesign were
made, including additional guidance documents
information to support industry and the and data requirements for duty holders which will
fire investigations for safe management
community to better understand the subordinate provide greater oversight of material movements
storage of combustible
legislation, including web content, frequently at landfills. EPA will continue strong enforcement
recyclable and waste
asked questions, EPA staff guidance and external
Onsite posters
action against businesses that avoid appropriate
materials
presentations. A webinar about the new laws was waste levy payments.
translated into held in February and received 10,189 views on our
YouTube channel by 30 June.
five languages
14 EPA Annual Report 2020/21 15
07 2020–21 performance continued
EPA’S BUSINESS SUPPORT MODEL
Outcome 1.3 our people on hand to answer questions about In 2020–21, EPA implemented a Business Support Model to help educate businesses
how the new Act will affect small business owners about their obligations under Victoria’s new environment protection laws.
Increased participation by business and explain the EPA approvals process and how
and community in preventing and This initiative focused on small to medium-sized enterprises and had three
the general environmental duty will interact with
managing environmental risk. their business operations. main elements: a small business self-assessment tool, industry-specific guides,
and the Small Business Program pilot.
Operated by Small Business Victoria, the bus
Support for business
visited Melbourne and regional Victoria as a
EPA published the small business self-assessment pilot was established to offer free expert advice
Under the Business Support Model, EPA has travelling office offering friendly, professional
tool on 31 January 2020, and it was translated to individual businesses about managing risks.
developed: assistance and expert advice.
into multiple languages in September to increase The pilot began in November 2020 with 75
› A self-assessment tool for small businesses EPA toured with the bus to various council areas its accessibility. eligible dry-cleaning, automotive repair and
— available in 11 languages — which helps including Cowes, Leongatha and Traralgon, as well
maintenance, and body repair businesses
businesses understand whether their activities as Yarra City, Darebin City, Whittlesea City, Greater
applying to participate. A survey of participants
that may potentially cause harm to the Geelong and Hume, Surf Coast, Brimbank and
at the commencement of the program found that
26 languages
environment and human health are being Greater Shepparton, and returning to Darebin and
only 6 per cent had very good awareness of the
adequately managed Yarra. Locations were promoted via EPA Twitter,
new environmental laws.
› Sector guides — for seven key industries with a full schedule also available online.
EPA engaged a consultancy to deliver
(waste and recycling, mining and quarrying, Industry guidance translations
Community litter reports personalised visits to each business from
retail, construction, agriculture, manufacturing
February 2021, which will continue throughout
and local government) — that provide: Be the solution In October 2020, we published seven guides for 2021 and into 2022. EPA’s Program Manager said
• A
n overview of legal obligations under the As Victorians flocked to camping grounds and the following sectors: waste and recycling, mining early feedback on the program was positive.
Environment Protection Act, starting with enjoyed the great outdoors last summer, EPA and quarrying, retail, construction, agriculture, ‘Businesses reported that they feel confident
the general environmental duty that applies launched a new campaign to encourage the manufacturing and local government. in their understanding of the new environment
under the new laws community to be the solution and report litter EPA’s Senior Industry Guidance Officer said that protection laws following their visit and would
• Information about Environment Protection and pollution. the guides were developed with support from recommend the program to others.’
Regulations 2021 that may apply to industrial Be the solution aimed to increase community members of EPA’s Industry Reference Groups.
75
activities confidence to minimise the impact of litter on the ‘Working with our industry reference group
• Information about managing risks, including environment and public health. Victorians were members was a great way to ensure that the
examples of how this can be done using a encouraged to report littering from a vehicle via guides meet the needs of the industry. Feedback
four-step process our website or the 24-hour hotline. Littering is
against the law, with fines for individuals of up to
was positive, affirming them as a useful resource.’
participating
businesses
• A list of common hazards in the sector In June 2021, EPA updated the sector guides
$363 for a small piece of litter and $727 for a lit to include relevant information from the
› The Small Business Program pilot that offers cigarette or burning litter. Nearly 60 per cent of Environment Protection Regulations 2021. The
free expert advice to eligible businesses about all litter from vehicles consists of cigarette butts guides now include tailored information on
EPA’s Small Business
managing risks or packaging. These pollute Victoria’s roadsides the waste and contaminated land duties, the Program pilot
› Sector-specific guidance, such as the and waterways, and butts can be a serious fire permissions framework and the new noise
sector guides Local government — guide hazard. As a result of the campaign, EPA received framework. The sector guides will also be
to preventing harm to people and the 11,007 reports and issued 8,431 infringements. supported by posters that highlight common Early findings from the program included a high
environment and Construction — guide EPA also strengthened links with local councils by hazards in specific industries. percentage of sites with acceptable or good risk
to preventing harm to people and the providing them with a range of communications management leadership. When asked if there
In collaboration with the Victorian Automobile
environment, which have received positive materials to help them enforce the law against were any parts of the first consultant visit that
Chamber of Commerce and the Drycleaning
feedback from external stakeholders. litterers. went well, responses included:
Institute of Australia, the Small Business Program
More than 130 EPA publications were produced
Litter enforcement officers › Great overall explanation and understanding
or updated during 2020–21, providing information of obligations.
and guidance about the new legislation and EPA has an important and ongoing relationship
› Friendly and not intimidating. Confident of our
ensuring all information was consistent with it to
help with stakeholder and community readiness.
with the Litter Enforcement Officer Network which
supports joint regulators of the Environment Sector actions required going forward.
Small Business Bus
Protection Act, especially local government and
Parks Victoria.
guides › Consultant was well prepared, listened and
observed and didn’t come with a ‘one solution
In April, EPA joined Victoria’s Small Business Bus, for construction, manufacturing, for all’ approach.
Now a program of Keep Victoria Beautiful, network waste and recycling, mining and
talking to business owners and members of the
membership consists mainly of litter enforcement quarrying, agriculture, retail and
public about EPA-related matters. It was a great
officers from local government, Parks Victoria, local government
opportunity to explain EPA’s new legislation, with
State Government and community groups.
16 EPA Annual Report 2020/21 1707 2020–21 performance continued
This year, EPA worked with network members on at the former Sunshine landfill site alerting
GOAL 2 Equip community and business
the development of the new Regulating litter and landowners to the presence of potentially
other waste: toolkit which explains the new litter contaminated land We support Victorians to understand the condition of their environment
and we work to ensure shared responsibility is accepted and understood by
and waste laws, and powers of litter authorities › Technical advice in relation to potential legacy
community and business.
and litter enforcement officers. contamination at the site of the Cairnlea
EPA subject matter experts presented at four residential development project — formerly
of the network’s meetings throughout the year, used by the Commonwealth Government for
explaining the new laws and answering questions. the Albion Explosives Factory — as well as Outcome 2.1 emergency incidents and help us provide tailored
Online platforms enabled between 40 and 60 advice in relation to separation distances information to the community when air quality
Timely, accessible information on the becomes hazardous to health.
network members to attend each meeting. from nearby industries as part of a submitted
noise assessment condition of our environment and expert
Supported by EPA, the network developed an AirWatch adopts national one-hour
advice on the human health impacts of
online training course for litter enforcement › Advice to Hepburn Shire Council in relation to
pollution and waste.
PM2.5 categories
officers about the new laws. The Regulating Litter amendments to the Hepburn Planning Scheme
Australia’s 2019–20 bushfire season highlighted the
and Other Waste training course assists those to restrict further development of buildings for
Real-time air quality information variation in PM2.5 pollution categories, management,
authorised under the Environment Protection Act accommodation and a subdivision within 500
with AirWatch and messaging use by different jurisdictions.
1970 to transition to the Environment Protection metres of the Daylesford Material Recovery
Throughout 2020, a working group established by
Act 2017 and to understand its provisions in Facility — sited on a former landfill — to protect EPA monitors Victoria’s air quality and provides
the Environmental Health Standing Committee
relation to litter. the facility and community from harm. continuous reporting to the public via AirWatch,
focused on achieving national consistency for air
which shows the level of pollutants in the air at
At a members meeting on 2 June 2021, the Land use and development quality categories and messaging.
sites throughout the state.
network provided free scenario-based training In addition to Victoria and Tasmania, all
We ensure issues are understood and advice is EPA’s AirWatch platform uses one set of air
to help officers transition to the new Act. states have now committed to display hourly
provided effectively to influence major project quality categories and health messaging for all
environment effects statement decisions and concentrations on their websites. Providing early
pollutants. This provides end users with hourly
notification of worsening air quality is essential
Outcome 1.4 prevent harm. An important element of our role PM2.5 concentrations and up to 48 hours of data
is to provide advice for major projects (including as it enables the community to take timely and
Provision of early advice to influence in an easy-to-understand format, supplying
transport infrastructure and energy) and earth preventative action.
Victorians with information to protect their health
land use planning decisions. resources industry projects through the process. in real time. International award for 2020 bushfire service
EPA input is important because these activities
Our response to referrals present significant environmental risks that can In addition to general health advice about all In September 2020, EPA’s website and AirWatch
EPA continues to provide planning authorities with impact generations. This year, we contributed to pollutants, a mobile-friendly display ensures page won an international award (Asia–Pacific
timely advice to prevent harm to human health 16 environment effects statements relating to six AirWatch is widely accessible. Japan) for delivering real-time health messaging
and the environment from conflicting land use mining and resource, seven energy, one transport In 2020–21, more than 97 per cent of daily air to the community during the 2019–20 bushfires.
(buffer) issues, including in relation to planning infrastructure, and two miscellaneous projects. quality forecasts on AirWatch were delivered The Sitecore Experience Award for EPA, in
amendments and applications, and major projects. EPA is on the Technical Reference Group for a by 5.30 pm. conjunction with Deloitte Digital (Australia), was
We responded to 830 planning referrals, 41 variety of projects, including Suburban Rail Loop, During the pandemic we continued the in the Most Impactful Human Connections in a
Environment Protection and Biodiversity Avonbank, Wimmera and Fingerboards Mineral maintenance and management of both the Changing World category.
Conservation Act referrals and 11 environment Sands projects and Western Victoria Transmission EPA ambient air quality network and the The fully rebuilt website and mobile-friendly
effects statement referrals. Line. Environment effects statements completed Latrobe Valley co-design network to ensure AirWatch platform saw EPA replace our existing
In addition to advising local councils on a range of this year were Crib Point and Golden Beach. the availability of air monitoring data to the air quality index this year with one-hour PM2.5
projects, EPA also provided advice to key planning We also provided ongoing support and advice to community via AirWatch. We led the review averages, delivering vital forecasts and health
agencies such as the Department of Environment, major transport infrastructure projects outside of standards set for ozone, nitrogen dioxide warnings to Victorians in real time.
Land, Water and Planning, the Victorian Planning the formal environment effect statement process and sulfur dioxide to establish the National EPA adapted an existing air quality index and
Authority, the Victorian Civil and Administrative as required. This included expert advice for major Environment Protection (Ambient Air Quality) developed a cloud-based platform to feed timely
Tribunal, Planning Panels Victoria, ministerial advisory transport infrastructure projects such as Suburban Measure. The review accounts for evidence of air quality information into the new website.
committees, and inquiry and advisory committees. Rail Loop, West Gate Tunnel, North East Link, Metro the health effects of these pollutants and will be
considered for adoption as reference standards During the bushfires, Victorians were able to
Our advice has resulted in amendments across a Tunnel, Melbourne Airport Rail, Mordialloc Bypass access air quality conditions in their local area,
and the Level Crossing Removal projects. We in Victoria following the commencement of the
variety of projects, including: new legislation on 1 July. four-day forecasts and links to health advice for
provided support on the new legislation, early works
› Working in partnership with Invest Victoria approval, spoil management and environment We continued to collaborate with CSIRO and
vulnerable groups, including children, people over
65, pregnant women and those with pre-existing
and Brimbank City Council to apply management plans. Of note was the approval of the Bureau of Meteorology to deliver modelled
appropriate planning controls at the former medical conditions.
environment management plans from three sites data that provides a better statewide overview
Sunshine Harvester site to reduce the impact that were seeking to be selected by the West Gate of our air quality. Daily forecasts at nine weather Feedback from the public was positive, with the new
of legacy contamination from past uses, as Tunnel Project to manage tunnel boring machine districts are used to provide information during website supporting significant increases in user
well as early advice to Brimbank City Council spoil generated by the project.
18 EPA Annual Report 2020/21 1907 2020–21 performance continued
WORLD METEOROLOGICAL ORGANIZATION GLOBAL
ATMOSPHERIC WATCH
traffic. Our previous record for traffic on the site Water quality at Victorian beaches
was 97 users per minute, but during the peak of Air pollution in Victoria and other parts This investigation resulted in the opportunity to
The Beach Report and Yarra Watch programs
the bushfire season the EPA website and AirWatch of the world has been impacted by collaborate with nearly 100 other researchers
help the community make informed decisions
were handling nearly 5,000 users per minute. around the world on a joint World Meteorological
about swimming and other recreational water- changes in human activity due to
Organization Global Atmospheric Watch paper led
Bushfire submission highlights AirWatch based activities during summer. They are the pandemic. by Professor Ranjeet S Sokhi. This is being split into
conducted at 36 beaches in Victoria’s Port Phillip
Victoria was recognised as the only state with an observation paper and a modelling paper.
Bay and four sites on the Yarra River.
easy-to-understand air quality reporting through EPA scientists investigated data from EPA’s The observation paper analysed data from more
AirWatch. In 2020–21, these sampling programs showed air monitoring network, along with changes than 500 monitoring stations from 63 cities
that water at the Bay and Yarra River sites was in traffic volumes, during the lockdowns and
The Centre for Air pollution, energy and health across the globe and has been submitted to an
safe for swimming 91 and 66 per cent of the found that concentrations of air pollutants such
Research made a submission to the Bushfire international journal for consideration.
time, respectively. There was an increase in the as fine particles (PM2.5) and oxides of nitrogen
Royal Commission’s Issues Paper: Health The second paper on modelling the observed
number of ‘poor’ water quality forecasts issued decreased, while others such as ozone increased.
arrangements in natural disasters. Among changes in air pollution because of public
this season, which was expected with the La As restrictions changed and winter approached,
its recommendations were to standardise air health measures in different cities is currently
Niña climate pattern of above-average rainfall, some of these changes were impacted by
quality reporting, including real-time (minimum being written, with EPA’s senior modeller leading
especially in summer. Dredging in the bay near decreasing temperatures and increased wood
of hourly) data, and a visual dashboard display this work in Australia. The modelling results
Werribee also meant an increase in poor water heater use. This demonstrated the complexity of
consolidated to one website. show good agreement with observed pollutant
quality forecasts. air pollution in Victoria and its many sources. The
We adapted AirWatch to replace our existing air concentration changes before, during and after
Between December 2020 and March 2021, EPA investigation was published in the March 2021
quality index with one-hour PM2.5 averages. A new restrictions.
provided twice-daily water quality forecasts to edition of the Clean Air Society of Australia and
mobile-friendly AirWatch provided Victorians with New Zealand Clean Air Journal and presented at This important work illustrates implications on
the community.
important health messages during the 2019–20 the 25th International Clean Air and Environment future policy development for transport and other
bushfire season, offering general advice on We also provided water quality alerts throughout
Conference in May 2021. The work showed the activities causing air pollution in Melbourne
all pollutants. the year when we detected an issue affecting a
impact that we can have on air pollution by and Victoria.
waterway in the Greater Melbourne, Mornington
According to the centre’s submission, Victoria changing the way we work and travel, and the
Peninsula, Geelong or Bellarine areas. The
met all criterion for hourly and concentrated data opportunity ahead to reduce air pollution and
information in these alerts is used by the
of PM2.5, offered health advice on pollutants, and improve air quality for all Victorians.
community to better understand potential risks
provided data that was easy to understand for
from exposure and support their decision making.
a general audience.
Monitoring our water
Regional Sensor Pilot Project
This year EPA’s Marine Fixed Sites Network
EPA has rolled out a major initiative to monitor
conducted monthly sampling in Port Phillip Bay,
and report on air quality in regional Victoria.
Western Port and the Gippsland Lakes, with eight
The Regional Sensor Pilot Project expanded our sampling trips in each of the three embayments.
existing network to monitor and publicly report We also acquired a new vessel, the Corinella,
on the levels of fine particles (PM2.5) in the air to sample Western Port Bay, inland waters and
from sources such as smoke in an additional 49 on-water emergency events, and expanded
regional Victorian towns. our marine monitoring network to cover Lake
Hourly air quality categories from each sensor, Reeve, which is one of the new State Environment
indicating the level of smoke and other fine Protection Policy (Waters) segments.
particles in the town, was available through EPA’s EPA continued to work closely with co-regulators,
AirWatch website from June this year. Melbourne Water and Agriculture Victoria,
The rollout complements the 41 existing monitoring to improve water quality in the middle Yarra
sites across Melbourne, Geelong and the Latrobe catchment. The collaboration follows work
Valley, as well as the Victoria State Emergency published by EPA in 2019 showing a range of
Service community smoke monitoring program agricultural pesticides in the water, which pose
and EPA’s incident air monitoring capacity. a risk to aquatic ecosystems and may affect
Melbourne’s drinking water supply in the future.
Most of the new sensors are located at Victoria
The discussions will support future work to
State Emergency Service sites, building on an
explore what role the new general environmental
existing relationship established through the
duty can play in a co-regulatory solution to
community smoke monitoring initiative. Sensors
help land managers implement better practices
are also at some Country Fire Authority sites,
on farms. EPA scientists have been investigating the impact on air quality of changes in movement due to the pandemic.
councils and educational institutions.
20 EPA Annual Report 2020/21 21You can also read
