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ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION ACT 2017

Table of Provisions

  • 1 Purposes  
  • 2 Commencement  
  • 3 Definitions  
  • 4 What is harm?  
  • 5 What is material harm?  
  • 6 The concept of minimising risks of harm to human health and the environment  
  • 7 Application of Act  
  • 8 Extraterritorial application of Act  
  • 9 Simplified outlines  

PART 2.1--SIMPLIFIED OUTLINE

  • 10 Simplified outline—Chapter 2  

PART 2.2--APPLICATION OF THIS CHAPTER

  • 11 Specified principles of environment protection  
  • 12 Effect of this Chapter  

PART 2.3--PRINCIPLES OF ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION

  • 13 Principle of integration of environmental, social and economic considerations  
  • 14 Principle of proportionality  
  • 15 Principle of primacy of prevention  
  • 16 Principle of shared responsibility  
  • 17 Principle of polluter pays  
  • 18 Principle of waste management hierarchy  
  • 19 Principle of evidence-based decision making  
  • 20 Precautionary principle  
  • 21 Principle of equity  
  • 22 Principle of accountability  
  • 23 Principle of conservation  

PART 3.1--SIMPLIFIED OUTLINE

  • 24 Simplified outline—Chapter 3  

PART 3.2--GENERAL ENVIRONMENTAL DUTY

PART 3.3--TRANSITIONAL DUTY RELATING TO MATERIAL HARM

PART 3.4--DUTIES RELATING TO POLLUTION INCIDENTS

PART 3.5--DUTIES RELATING TO CONTAMINATED LAND

Division 1--Core concepts and application of Part

Division 2--Duties relating to contaminated land

  • 39 Duty to manage contaminated land  
  • 40 Duty to notify of contaminated land  
  • 41 Manner and form of notification  
  • 42 Privilege against self-incrimination abrogated  

PART 4.1--SIMPLIFIED OUTLINE

  • 43 Simplified outline—Chapter 4  

PART 4.2--PERMISSIONS REQUIRED FOR CERTAIN ACTIVITIES

PART 4.3--GENERAL PROVISIONS RELATING TO PERMISSIONS

PART 4.4--LICENCES

Division 1--Development licences

Division 2--Operating licences

Division 3--Pilot project licences

Division 4--Licence exemptions

PART 4.5--PERMITS

PART 4.6--REGISTRATIONS

PART 4.7--PERSONS PROHIBITED FROM ENGAGING IN PRESCRIBED ACTIVITIES

  • 88 Certain persons prohibited from engaging in particular activities  
  • 89 Additional or alternative penalties for prohibited persons  
  • 90 Applications by prohibited persons to engage in prescribed activity  
  • 90A Notice and payment of additional application fee  

PART 4.8--ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION LEVY

PART 5.1--SIMPLIFIED OUTLINE

  • 92 Simplified outline—Chapter 5  

PART 5.2--ENVIRONMENT REFERENCE STANDARDS

PART 5.3--COMPLIANCE CODES

PART 5.4--POSITION STATEMENTS

PART 6.1--SIMPLIFIED OUTLINE

  • 110 Simplified outline—Chapter 6  

PART 6.2--OBJECTS

  • 111 Objects  

PART 6.3--LITTER AND OTHER WASTE

Division 1--Preliminary matters

Division 2--Appointment of litter enforcement officers

Division 3--Offences in relation to littering and other waste

Division 4--Removal of waste and objects or things

Division 5--Powers of litter enforcement officers and other matters

PART 6.4--DUTIES RELATING TO INDUSTRIAL WASTE

PART 6.5--DUTIES AND CONTROLS RELATING TO PRIORITY WASTE

PART 6.6--WASTE LEVY SCHEME

  • 144 Definitions  
  • 145 Requirement to pay waste levy  
  • 146 Minister may waive the requirement to pay waste levy  
  • 147 Payment of waste levy to the Authority  
  • 148 Calculation of levy that results in negative amount  
  • 149 Agreement to offset amount owing  
  • 150 Requirement to provide prescribed information regarding calculations of waste levy and allowable rebates to Authority  
  • 151 Assessment by the Authority of waste levy liability  
  • 152 Rights and powers of the Authority if waste levy is not paid  

PART 7.1--SIMPLIFIED OUTLINE

  • 153 Simplified outline—Chapter 7  

PART 7.2--ENVIRONMENTALLY HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES

PART 7.3--OBLIGATIONS FOR MANAGERS OF LAND OR INFRASTRUCTURE

  • 156 Obligations of managers of land or infrastructure  

PART 7.4--AUTHORISATION OF DISCHARGES OR DISPOSAL

  • 157 Authority may authorise emergency storage, use etc. of waste  
  • 157A Notice and payment of additional application fee  
  • 158 Complying with authorisation  

PART 7.5--ISSUES OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERN

PART 7.6--CONTROL OF UNREASONABLE AND AGGRAVATED NOISE

Division 1--Meaning of residential premises

Division 2--Unreasonable and aggravated noise

Division 3--Enforcement

PART 8.1--SIMPLIFIED OUTLINE

  • 178 Simplified outline—Chapter 8  

PART 8.2--BETTER ENVIRONMENT PLANS

PART 8.3--ENVIRONMENTAL AUDIT SYSTEM

  • 189 Purpose of Part  

Division 1--Environmental auditors

Division 2--Preliminary risk screen assessments

Division 3--Environmental audits

Division 4--Offences and other matters

PART 8.4--FINANCIAL ASSURANCES

PART 8.5--ADVISORY PANELS

  • 235 Advisory panels  

PART 8.6--CONFERENCE OF INTERESTED PERSONS

  • 236 Authority may establish conference of interested persons  
  • 237 Appointment of convenor  
  • 238 Recommendations and additional material from conference of interested persons  
  • 239 Rules for conferences of interested persons  
  • 240 Participation to be voluntary  

PART 9.1--SIMPLIFIED OUTLINE

  • 241 Simplified outline—Chapter 9  

PART 9.2--APPOINTMENT OF AUTHORISED OFFICERS AND ANALYSTS AND APPOINTMENTS TO OTHER ROLES

Division 1--Authorised officers

Division 2--Other appointments by Authority

PART 9.3--INSPECTION AND INQUIRY POWERS

Division 1--Powers of entry and inspection

Division 2--Information gathering notices

  • 255 Authority may serve information gathering notice  
  • 256 Form of information gathering notice  
  • 257 Extension of time under information gathering notice  
  • 258 Court orders  

Division 3--Power to ask person's name and address

Division 4--Power to give directions

Division 5--Search warrants

  • 261 Authorised officer may apply for search warrants  
  • 262 Announcement before entry on warrant  
  • 263 Copy of warrant to be given to occupier  

Division 6--Return and forfeiture of seized things

  • 264 Return of seized things  
  • 265 Forfeiture of seized things  

Division 7--Offences relating to authorised officers

Division 8--General

PART 10.1--SIMPLIFIED OUTLINE

  • 270 Simplified outline—Chapter 10  

PART 10.2--IMPROVEMENT AND PROHIBITION NOTICES

Division 1--Improvement notices

Division 2--Prohibition notices

PART 10.3--NOTICES TO INVESTIGATE AND ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION NOTICES

Division 1--Notice to investigate

Division 2--Environmental action notice

PART 10.4--SITE MANAGEMENT ORDERS

PART 10.5--NON-DISTURBANCE NOTICES

  • 278 Power to issue a non-disturbance notice  

PART 10.6--GENERAL MATTERS RELATING TO NOTICES

  • 279 Amendment of notices  
  • 280 Notification of notices  
  • 281 Proceedings for offences not affected by notices  
  • 282 Continuing effect of notices and conditions  

PART 10.7--REDIRECTION OF CORPORATE OBLIGATIONS

  • 283 Redirection of obligations of related or associated entities  
  • 284 Redirection of obligations to officers  
  • 285 Redirection of obligations in case of transfer of land  

PART 10.8--OFFENCES RELATING TO NOTICES AND ORDERS

PART 10.9--CLEAN UP AND COST RECOVERY POWERS

Division 1--Clean up powers

Division 2--Cost recovery powers

  • 297 Cost recovery powers  
  • 297A Displacement of other laws  
  • 298 Unrecovered costs can become charge on property  

PART 11.1--SIMPLIFIED OUTLINE

  • 299 Simplified outline—Chapter 11  

PART 11.2--ENFORCEABLE UNDERTAKINGS

PART 11.3--INFRINGEMENT NOTICES

  • 307 Infringement notices  

PART 11.4--CIVIL REMEDIES

PART 11.5--CIVIL PENALTIES

PART 11.6--POWERS OF COURTS

Division 1--Application of Part 11.6

  • 327 Application of Part 11.6  

Division 2--Orders

  • 328 General  
  • 329 Monetary benefit orders  
  • 330 Adverse publicity orders  
  • 331 General restoration and prevention orders  
  • 332 Restorative project orders  
  • 333 Environmental audit orders  

Division 3--Enforcement of orders

  • 334 Enforcement of orders  

Division 4--Impact statements

  • 335 Court may consider impact statements  

Division 5--Restorative justice processes

  • 336 Adjournment of proceedings for restorative justice process  

PART 11.7--EVIDENTIARY AND RELATED ENFORCEMENT PROVISIONS

  • 337 Reports and certificates  
  • 338 Certificate concerning ownership of vehicle or vessel  
  • 339 Certificate concerning litter offences  
  • 340 Reports and certificates to be served with summons  
  • 341 Statement to be evidence of authority  
  • 342 Judicial notice of signatures  
  • 343 Evidence  
  • 344 Service of documents  
  • 345 Service of documents—alternative to attendance  
  • 346 Authority to be able to recover costs of analysis  
  • 347 Persons who may take proceedings  
  • 348 Contraventions on shared premises  

PART 11.8--OFFICERS' LIABILITIES AND CONDUCT OF EMPLOYEES AND AGENTS

Division 1--Officers' liabilities

  • 349 Liability of officers of bodies corporate—failure to exercise due diligence  
  • 350 Liability of officers of bodies corporate—failure to exercise due diligence (legal burden of proof)  
  • 351 Liability of officers of bodies corporate—accessorial liability  
  • 352 Application of civil penalties to officers of bodies corporate  

Division 2--Conduct of employees and agents

PART 11.9--DEFENCE OF EMERGENCY

  • 354 Emergency  

PART 12.1--SIMPLIFIED OUTLINE

  • 355 Simplified outline—Chapter 12  

PART 12.2--ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION AUTHORITY

PART 12.3--GENERAL PROVISIONS

PART 14.1--SIMPLIFIED OUTLINE

  • 428 Simplified outline—Chapter 14  

PART 14.2--REVIEW OF DECISIONS

Division 1--Review by the Authority

Division 2--Review by VCAT

  • 430 Decisions reviewable by VCAT  
  • 431 Applications for review by VCAT  
  • 432 Specific grounds of review  
  • 433 Joinder of parties  
  • 434 Application for review by third parties  
  • 435 Matters VCAT must take into account  
  • 436 Application for declaration  

PART 14.3--DELEGATIONS

  • 437 Delegation  

PART 14.4--FINANCIAL MATTERS

  • 438 Fees and penalties to be paid into the Consolidated Fund  
  • 439 Exceptions to requirement to pay fees and penalties into the Consolidated Fund  
  • 440 Further exceptions to requirement to pay fees and penalties into the Consolidated Fund in relation to Part 6.3  
  • 441 Environment Protection Fund  
  • 442 Investment of money from Environment Protection Fund  
  • 443 Treasurer may make grants or advances out of the Environment Protection Fund  
  • 444 Payments into the Environment Protection Fund  
  • 445 Payments out of the Environment Protection Fund  
  • 446 General Waste Levy Account  
  • 447 Restorative Project Account  
  • 448 Municipal and Industrial Waste Levy Trust Account  
  • 449 Sustainability Fund Account  
  • 450 Priority statement  
  • 451 Sustainability Fund Account guidelines  

PART 14.5--INFORMATION SHARING

Division 1--Collection, use, disclosure and publication of information

Division 2--Public Register

PART 14.6--DESIGNATED AGENCIES

PART 14.7--EXEMPTIONS

  • 459AA Notice and payment of additional application fee  
  • 459 Exemptions  
  • 459A Timing for dealing with applications for exemptions  
  • 459B Authority may require additional information  

PART 14.8--IMPERSONATION, INTERFERENCE, AND INFORMATION OFFENCES

  • 460 Impersonation  
  • 461 False representations relating to Authority approval  
  • 462 Interference with equipment  
  • 463 Provision of false information  

PART 14.9--INTEREST

PART 15.1--SIMPLIFIED OUTLINE

  • 464 Simplified outline—Chapter 15  

PART 15.2--REGULATIONS

PART 16.1--SIMPLIFIED OUTLINE

  • 467 Simplified outline—Chapter 16  

PART 16.2--GENERAL

  • 468 Definitions  
  • 469 General transitional provisions  

PART 16.3--TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS: PERMISSIONS, NOTICES, DIRECTIONS AND ORDERS

Division 1--Permissions

Division 2--Notices, directions and orders

  • 476 Continuation of notices and directions  
  • 477 Notifiable chemical orders  

PART 16.4--TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS: ENVIRONMENTAL AUDITS

PART 16.6--TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS: FINANCIAL MATTERS

Division 1--Funds

  • 488 Money standing to the credit of Environment Protection Fund  
  • 489 Money standing to the credit of General Landfill Levy account  
  • 490 Money standing to the credit of Municipal and Industrial Landfill Levy Trust Account  
  • 491 Money standing to the credit of Sustainability Fund Account  
  • 492 Priority statement and guidelines  

Division 2--Landfill levy

Division 3--Financial assurances

  • 494 Transitional provision—financial assurances  

PART 16.7--TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS: CONTINUATION OF CERTAIN APPOINTMENTS AND ROLES

PART 16.8--TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS: VCAT MATTERS

  • 499 General provisions relating to VCAT  

PART 16.9--TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS: REGULATIONS

Division 1--Saving of Environment Protection (Industrial Waste Resource) Regulations 2009

  • 500 Saving of the Environment Protection (Industrial Waste Resource) Regulations 2009  

Division 2--Saving of Environment Protection (Vehicle Emissions) Regulations 2013

  • 501 Saving of the Environment Protection (Vehicle Emissions) Regulations 2013  

Division 3--Transitional regulations

PART 16.10--TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS--VICTORIAN WASTE AND RESOURCE RECOVERY INFRASTRUCTURE PLANNING FRAMEWORK

PART 17.1--TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS--ENVIRONMENT LEGISLATION AMENDMENT (CIRCULAR ECONOMY AND OTHER MATTERS) ACT 2022

  • 503A Definitions  
  • 504 Application fees  
  • 505 Time for determining applications, request for additional information  

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