Published Tuesday, 05 June, 2007 at 03:15 PM
Minister for Environment and Multiculturalism
The Honourable Lindy Nelson-Carr
$5 MILLION COMMITMENT FOR ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE
The State Government’s commitment to helping ensure industry in Queensland is environmentally responsible has been substantially boosted in the 2007-08 Budget.
Environment Minister Lindy Nelson-Carr said an additional $5 million had been allocated for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to carry out an enhanced compliance program focussing on industries it regulates undertaking high risk activities and industrial estates.
“The program will target a range of industries throughout Queensland including mines, chemical manufacturers, aquaculture sites, quarries, food processing facilities, metal works, waste management and sewage treatment plants,” Ms Nelson Carr said.
“This funding will provide about 60 new staff at 10 EPA regional offices across the State to do this work and provide additional resources to assist the EPA in undertaking assessment, monitoring and investigation of a range of environmental issues.
“Queensland’s population growth of more than 2 percent per year during the last decade has resulted in unprecedented economic growth and associated industrial activity.
“Some of the State’s industries have grown at even greater rates and this dramatic growth has resulted in an increasing number of applications for the EPA to assess.”
Ms Nelson-Carr said the additional staff would assist in expediting a systematic inspection program of all industrial estates in Queensland currently being undertaken by the EPA following a fire at the Narangba industrial estate.
“Without this injection of funds, it would have taken more than 5 years to complete this audit program.
“This funding will also make it possible for the EPA to carry out other compliance programs targeting a specific industry or area, and provide resources for investigating complaints and following up on non compliance.
“Due to the varying size and complexity of sites and issues regulated by the EPA, it may take one or more experienced officers anything from a few hours to several days to complete an inspection or major audit.
“The allocation of additional resources to the EPA will allow compliance teams to be established in many districts with new officers dedicated to compliance work which effectively frees up other staff to get on with the job of undertaking environmental assessments.”
Ms Nelson-Carr said the State Government was now focussed on ensuring all industries took an active role in environmental responsibility and accountability.
She said that as the State’s environmental regulator, the EPA set, monitored and enforced standards reflecting the community’s expectations for a clean, healthy and sustainable environment for all Queenslanders.
“Strategic enforcement is one part of this but it must also be supported by voluntary initiatives such as encouraging industry to adopt good environmental performance as a part of everyday business.”
Media contact: Karla Steen 3336 8004 or Lisa Gilby 3336 8002
Environment Minister Lindy Nelson-Carr said an additional $5 million had been allocated for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to carry out an enhanced compliance program focussing on industries it regulates undertaking high risk activities and industrial estates.
“The program will target a range of industries throughout Queensland including mines, chemical manufacturers, aquaculture sites, quarries, food processing facilities, metal works, waste management and sewage treatment plants,” Ms Nelson Carr said.
“This funding will provide about 60 new staff at 10 EPA regional offices across the State to do this work and provide additional resources to assist the EPA in undertaking assessment, monitoring and investigation of a range of environmental issues.
“Queensland’s population growth of more than 2 percent per year during the last decade has resulted in unprecedented economic growth and associated industrial activity.
“Some of the State’s industries have grown at even greater rates and this dramatic growth has resulted in an increasing number of applications for the EPA to assess.”
Ms Nelson-Carr said the additional staff would assist in expediting a systematic inspection program of all industrial estates in Queensland currently being undertaken by the EPA following a fire at the Narangba industrial estate.
“Without this injection of funds, it would have taken more than 5 years to complete this audit program.
“This funding will also make it possible for the EPA to carry out other compliance programs targeting a specific industry or area, and provide resources for investigating complaints and following up on non compliance.
“Due to the varying size and complexity of sites and issues regulated by the EPA, it may take one or more experienced officers anything from a few hours to several days to complete an inspection or major audit.
“The allocation of additional resources to the EPA will allow compliance teams to be established in many districts with new officers dedicated to compliance work which effectively frees up other staff to get on with the job of undertaking environmental assessments.”
Ms Nelson-Carr said the State Government was now focussed on ensuring all industries took an active role in environmental responsibility and accountability.
She said that as the State’s environmental regulator, the EPA set, monitored and enforced standards reflecting the community’s expectations for a clean, healthy and sustainable environment for all Queenslanders.
“Strategic enforcement is one part of this but it must also be supported by voluntary initiatives such as encouraging industry to adopt good environmental performance as a part of everyday business.”
Media contact: Karla Steen 3336 8004 or Lisa Gilby 3336 8002