Untitled Document

link to EDO NSW home page

Overview

2.1 - NSW planning & assessment law

2.1.1 - Environmental planning

2.1.2 - Development assessment (DA)

2.1.3 - Appeals

2.1.4 - Unlawful development

2.1.5 - Land & Environment Court

2.1.6 - Commissions of Inquiry

2.1.7 - Western lands

2.2 - Commonwealth environmental assessment law
Overview

3.1 - Water, air and noise pollution

3.2 - Contaminated land

3.3 - Waste management

3.4 - Toxic chemicals

3.5 - Pesticides
Overview

4.1 - Mining

4.2 - Forestry

4.3 - Catchment management

4.4 - Vegetation management

4.5 - Water management

4.6 - Coastal management
Overview

5.1 - Species protection

5.2 - Protected areas

5.3 - Conservation on private land
Overview

6.1 - Commonwealth heritage protection law

6.2 - NSW heritage protection law
Overview

7.1 - Submissions, letters & petitions

7.2 - Using the media

7.3 - Access to information

7.4 - Speaking out in public

7.5 - Incorporation

7.6 - Corporations & environmental campaigning

7.8 - Legal advice & litigation
Overview

8.1 - Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC)

8.2 - Ombudsman

8.3 - NSW Auditor-General

8.4 - Privacy

8.5 - Waste, Recycling and Purchasing Policy (WRAPP)

8.6 - Government Energy Management Policy
9.1 - Legal Advice

9.2 - Legal Research

9.3 - Legislation

9.4 - Environment Groups

9.5 - Government Contacts

9.6 - Publications

9.7 - Legislation

9.8 - Links to external factsheets
 

Environmental Defender's Office
New South Wales (Ltd)
Fact Sheets

Print
Untitled Document

 

Warning: The information in this fact sheet may be out of date and should not be relied upon. We are currently in the process of updating all fact sheets.

The information contained in this fact sheet is current as at 23 April 2008

Topic 1 - Introduction to Environmental Law

1.3 Functions of Environmental Law

The key functions of modern environmental law may be described as follows:

  • to establish regulatory structures for environmental management, including regulatory agencies and specialist courts and tribunals;
  • to empower regulators to manage environmental impacts using plans, policies, standards, licences and incentives;
  • to require persons proposing environmentally significant activities to seek permission from regulators;
  • to enable members of the public to take part in strategic planning and project evaluation;
  • to require activities of environmental significance to be assessed before permission can be granted;
  • to provide administrative, civil and criminal sanctions for non-compliance with the law;
  • to allow the legality of decisions of regulators to be challenged by members of the public; and
  • to allow the merits of certain decisions of regulators to be challenged by members of the public.

 

 

 

EDO NSW home

This site was last updated Tuesday 7 October, 2008
© 2008 Environmental Defender's Office (Ltd) NSW
Home
| Disclaimer | Privacy | Contact Us | Support the EDO