The
EDO actively monitors developments in Victorian and Commonwealth environment
and planning law and, where appropriate, makes submissions to Government
relating to existing and proposed legislation. Examples of our recent
work are outlined below.
ENVIRONMENTAL
LAW REFORM CALENDAR
For information
about upcoming Victorian and Federal environmental law reform issues
2009-2010 including timetables and due dates for community submissions,
click
here.
Reforming
the Environmental Water Reserve: How amending Victoria's Water Act could
restore river health
The EDO has released
a report reviewing the legal mechanisms for environmental water in Victoria
and made a number of recommendations for reform of the Victorian Water
Act 1989 to improve the protection and management of water in the environmental
water reserve. The report was commissioned by Environment Victoria. View
report (PDF, 372KB)
The Victorian
Climate Change Bill was introduced into Parliament on 27 July 2010.
The Bill will implement some of the measures announced in the Climate
Change White Paper which was released Monday 2 August.
The Coastal Climate
Change Advisory Committee was established by the Victorian Government
to examine whether the Victorian planning system can adequately deal
with the impacts of the impacts of climate change on Victoria's coast.
More details and the issues paper can be found on the DSE
website (external site). View
submission (PDF, 320KB) in response to the Coastal Climate Change
Advisory Committee Issues and Options Paper February 2010 (EDO and
VNPA submission)
Environmental
effects statement process review (March 2010)
The Victorian
Parliaments Environment and Natural Resources Committee is holding
an inquiry into the operation of the environmental effects statement
process (EIA process) under the Environmental Effects Act 1978.
The Committee sought submissions by 31 March 2010 but some extensions
may be granted to the end of April on individual application. More
details can be found on the Parliamentary
website (external site).
EDO has made a
submission to the inquiry and prepared a briefing note summarising
our concerns about the current process and some recommendations for
reform. View
briefing paper (PDF, 142KB) View
submission (PDF, 226KB)
Renewable
energy projects approval process
View
submission (PDF, 148KB) to the Inquiry into the approval process
for renewable energy projects in Victoria
Proposal
for a Victorian Climate Charter (October 2009)
The EDO is proposing
a Climate Charter which sets up a legal framework to ensure that Victoria
is proactively addressing climate change. The framework will ensure
Victoria will significantly reduce its emissions, and make its best
effort to adapt to the unavoidable climate impacts we are already
starting to feel. We want your views and support. You can read the
12-page document and the 2-page summary via the links below.
Submission in
response to the State Government's Climate Change Green Paper (30
September 2009) View
submission (PDF, 166KB)
Modernising
Victorias Planning Act
In March 2009
DPCD released Modernising Victorias Planning Act - A discussion
paper on opportunities to improve the Planning and Environment Act
1987. View
submission (PDF, 360KB) in response to discussion paper (1 May
2009)
DPCD then released
five response papers as part of the review. The papers set out the
Governments proposed reforms of the Act. The papers were drafted
in response to the issues and suggestions raised in public submissions
to the discussion paper. The EDO prepared a briefing note which highlights
some of the changes proposed. View
briefing paper (PDF, 150KB) View
further submission (PDF, 119KB) in response to the DPCD response
papers (21 September 2009)
In December 2009,
DPCD released for comment a draft Planning and Environment Amendment
(General) Bill. View
submission (PDF, 102KB) in response to the draft Bill (12 February
2010)
Environment
Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act: 10-year review
The EPBC Act is
undergoing a 10-year review to look at whether the Act is meeting
its objectives. The EDO has produced this briefing note explains the
history of the review and next steps. View
briefing paper (PDF, 145KB)
Urban
Growth Boundary extension (July 2009)
View
submission (PDF, 210KB) to the Strategic Impact Assessment Report
(17 July 2009) View
submission (PDF, 125KB) to the Inquiry into the impact of the
State Governments decision to change the Urban Growth Boundary
(12 October 2009)
National
Carbon Offset Standard: Key Issues and Contentions
(February 2009)
The Federal Government
released a discussion paper on a national carbon offset standard for
public comment. Under the proposed Federal emissions trading scheme,
voluntary action by individuals and companies to reduce their emissions
will not, in some cases, reduce Australia's overall emissions. The
EDO drafted an issues paper which helps to clarify the role of the
offsets standard and discusses the issues surrounding voluntary action
under an emissions trading scheme. View
issues paper (PDF, 165KB)
Major Transport
Projects Facilitation Bill (September 2009) - In August 2009 the Government
introduced the Major Transport Projects Facilitation Bill into Parliament,
aiming to streamline the approval process for major transport projects
in Victoria. This Bill represented a major shift in the way transport
projects are assessed and approved and yet there had been no formal
public consultation. There are many aspects of the Bill which were
of concern for public participation, environmental protection and
good governance. This issues paper covers the background, a summary
of the Bill and the EDO's concerns with the Bill. View
'issues and concerns' paper (PDF, 162KB)
Human Rights
and the Environment (May 2009) - EDO Victoria and EDO NSW drafted
a discussion paper which outlines which environmental rights could
and should be protected through a human rights charter, and what environmental
rights protection could do for the environment. View
paper (PDF, 230KB) View
submission (PDF, 243KB) to the National Human Rights Consultation
(15 June 2009)
Submission in
response to The role of VCAT in a changing world consultation
paper (12 June 2009) View
submission (PDF, 88KB)
Submission in
response to the the Victorian Competition and Efficiency Commission's
A Sustainable Future for Victoria: Getting Environmental Regulation
Right (May 2009) View
submission (PDF, 360KB)
Submission in
response to the State Government Land and Biodiversity Green Paper
(July 2008) View
submission (PDF, 240KB)
Submission in
response to the Draft Victorian Coastal Strategy 2007 (31 January
2008) View
submission (PDF, 73KB)
Submission to
VicRoads Code of Practice for Native Vegetation Removal Background
Paper (7 December 2007) View
submission (PDF, 48KB)
Submission to
the Melbourne 2030 Audit (September 2007) View
submission (PDF, 48KB)
Submission in
response to the State Government Land and Biodiversity White Paper
discussion paper (June 2007) View
submission (PDF, 140KB)
Submission to
the First Biennial Assessment of the National Water Initiative (28
February 2007) View
submission (PDF, 225KB)
ANEDO submissions
EDO Victoria contributes
to submissions made by the Australian Network of Environmental Defenders
Offices (ANEDO). Visit the ANEDO website for details, by clicking on
'EDO Network' in the menu at left, or by clicking
here.
BIODIVERSITY
WHITE PAPER REPORT
In January
2008, the EDO released its report Land and Biodiversity -
a Call for Action. This report examines the submissions
received by the Department of Sustainability and Environment
in June 2007 in response to the consultation paper Land and
Biodiversity at a Time of Climate Change.
To read
the EDO's submission to the Green Paper (July 2008), click
here (PDF, 240KB)
To read
the EDO's original submission (June 2007), click
here (PDF, 140KB)
CONFERENCE
In November 2006,
the EDO and Threatened Species Network presented Future
Guaranteed? Victorias Threatened Species, a one-day
conference examining Victorian threatened species laws. More
information...