EPA Acting Director-General, Lisa Corbyn, said a total of 2,600 licences for industries across NSW is expected to be reviewed over the next two years.
Licences specify environmental performance requirements for certain industrial activities.
Appropriate conditions are discussed with the licensee before being finalised and the EPA takes into account factors such as the type of activity, the potential impact on the environment, and available technology to prevent or minimise environmental harm. The POEO Act has introduced a single licensing arrangement to replace the numerous licences and approvals under the previous pollution control acts relating separately to air, water and noise pollution and waste facilities. The move to three-yearly reviews will improve consistency both within individual licences and across industry sectors and will also give industry greater certainty and allow it to plan for the longer term capital investment needed to upgrade equipment. Ms Corbyn said that under POEO some new or different conditions will be placed on licences. Licensees will have to provide an annual summary of both environmental monitoring and complaints, reducing the need to report throughout the year.