Source: http://www.legislation.nsw.gov.au/fullhtml/inforce/act+140+1997+pt.9-div.1-sec.73+0+N
Timestamp: 2013-05-23 23:18:17
Document Index: 590554634

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Contaminated Land Management Act 1997 No 140
Current version for 11 January 2013 to date (accessed 24 May 2013 at 09:18).
6 Responsibility for contamination of land
7 Concept of notional owner
8 General functions of EPA
9 Need to maintain ecologically sustainable
Part 2 Part 3 Management of contaminated land
Division 1 Preliminary investigation of land
10 Preliminary investigation orders
Division 2 Regulation of significantly contaminated
11 Declaring land to be significantly contaminated
12 Matters to be considered before declaring land to be
13 Choice of appropriate person to be made subject to
14 Management orders
15 Details of management order
16 Actions that may be required by management
17 Voluntary management proposals
18–27 (Repealed)
Division 3 Ongoing maintenance of management
28 Ongoing maintenance orders
29 Ongoing maintenance—restrictions and
Division 4 Action by public authority
30 Public authority may step in if person fails to
31 Duty of public authority
Division 5 Entry on land
32 Refusal of entry on land
33 Liability for losses
Division 6 Costs
33A Recovery of money under this Division
34 Recovery of EPA’s costs
35 Recovery of public authority’s costs in carrying out
36 Recovery of other costs
37 Public authority’s priority if owner
38 Limit on liability of representative or trustee
39 Registration of cost notices
40 Charge on land subject to cost notice
41 Removal of charge
42 Repayment of appropriations out of Consolidated
43 Multiple orders and notices
44 Amendment or repeal of orders and notices
45 Obstruction of persons
46 EPA may issue clean-up and prevention notices
Part 4 Site audits
48 Statutory site audits
49 Accreditation panel
50 Application for accreditation as site auditor
51 Grant of accreditation as site auditor
52 Renewal of accreditation
53 Conditions of accreditation
53A Directions
53B Site audit reports and site audit statements
53C Notification to EPA of statutory site audit
53D Annual returns and other notifications
54 Site auditor to avoid conflicts of interest
56 Revocation, suspension or refusal to renew
57 Holding out
58 Record to be maintained by the EPA
59 Local authorities to be informed
60 Duty to report contamination
61 Appeals about management orders
62 Determination of appeals
Part 7 Orders against directors or companies to manage
contamination at own expense
63 Director of body corporate that is wound up
64 Director of body corporate that disposed of
65 Holding company of body corporate that is wound
Part 8 Evidence
69 Proof of certain matters not required
70 Documentary evidence generally
71 Certificate evidence of certain matters
72 Evidence of analysts
73 Appointment of authorised officers
74 Scope of authority
75 Identification
Division 2 Powers to require information or
76 Application of Division
77 Requirement to provide information and records
78 Requirement to provide information and records (authorised
79 Manner and time for compliance
80 Provisions relating to information and records
Division 3 Powers of entry and search of land
81 Powers to enter land
82 Entry into residential premises only with permission or
83 Powers to do things on premises
84 Search warrants
86 Care to be taken
Division 4 Powers to question persons
88 Power of authorised officers to require answers
89 Offences
90 Provisions relating to requirements to furnish information
or answer questions
91 Proceedings for Part 3, 4 or 5 offences
92 Proceedings for other offences
92A Penalty notices
93 Time for commencing proceedings
Division 2 Who may institute proceedings for
94 EPA may institute proceedings
95 Other persons may institute proceedings with
Division 3 Restraint of breaches without prosecution for
96 Restraint of breaches
97 Matters to be considered in imposing penalty
98 Liability of directors etc for offences by
98A Liability of directors etc for offences by
98B Evidence as to state of mind of corporation
99 Onus of proof of reasonable excuse
101 Act to bind Crown
102 Disputes between EPA and public authorities
103 False or misleading information
104 Publicity about contamination
105 Guidelines
106 Reasons for certain decisions
107 Disclosure of information
108 Service of notices
109 Relationship with other Acts
110 Effect of this Act on other rights, remedies and
111A Offset arrangements
113 Repeal
115 Savings and transitional provisions
An Act to promote the better management of contaminated land; to
amend the Environmentally Hazardous
Chemicals Act 1985; to amend certain other Acts; and for other
purposes.Part 1 Preliminary1 Name of ActThis Act is the Contaminated
Land Management Act 1997.2 CommencementThis Act commences on a day or days to be appointed by
proclamation.3 Objects of this Act(1) The general object of this Act is to establish a process for
investigating and (where appropriate) remediating land that the EPA considers
to be contaminated significantly enough to require regulation under Division 2
of Part 3.(2) Particular objects of this Act are:(a) to set out accountabilities for managing contamination if the EPA
considers the contamination is significant enough to require regulation under
Division 2 of Part 3, and
(b) to set out the role of the EPA in the assessment of contamination
and the supervision of the investigation and management of contaminated sites,
(c) to provide for the accreditation of site auditors of contaminated
land to ensure appropriate standards of auditing in the management of
(d) to ensure that contaminated land is managed with regard to the
principles of ecologically sustainable development.
4 Definitions(1) In this Act:accreditation panel
means the accreditation panel convened by the EPA under Part 4.appropriate
person means a person specified in accordance with section 13 as a
person who is to be the subject of a management order.approved
use of land means a use to which the subject land may be put without
approval or development consent under Part 3A or 4 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act
1979.approved
voluntary management proposal means a voluntary management proposal
that has been approved by the EPA under section 17, as modified by any
conditions imposed by the EPA under that section.authorised
officer means an officer appointed under Part 9.Chairperson
of the EPA means the Chairperson of the EPA appointed under Division
3 of Part 5 of the Protection of the
Environment Administration Act 1991.contaminate and contamination are defined in
section 5.costs include
expenses.Department means the Department
of Environment and Climate Change.environment means components
of the earth, including:(a) land, air and water, and
(c) any organic or inorganic matter and any living organism,
(d) human-made or modified structures and
and includes interacting natural ecosystems that include components
referred to in paragraphs (a)–(c).Note. This definition follows that in the Protection of the Environment Administration Act
1991.environment
protection legislation has the same meaning as in the Protection of the Environment Administration Act
1991.environmental
Planning and Assessment Act 1979.EPA means the
1991.executor
means a person acting as executor or trustee in the administration of a
deceased estate to whom a grant of probate of a will, or administration with
the will annexed, is made.exercise a
includes a power, authority or duty.guideline
means a guideline made or approved by the EPA under section 105 and for the
time being having effect under that section.harm means, in
relation to the contamination of land, harm to human health or some other
aspect of the environment (including any direct or indirect alteration of the
environment that has the effect of degrading the environment), whether in, on
or under the land or elsewhere.interested
person means, in relation to land, a person referred to in section
13 (2) (a), (b) or (c).land includes
water on or below the surface of land and the bed of such
water.local
authority means:(a) the council, within the meaning of the Local Government Act 1993, in
relation to an area within the meaning of that Act, or
(b) the Lord Howe Island Board in relation to Lord Howe Island,
(c) the Western Lands Commissioner for the Western Division,
(d) an authority prescribed by the regulations for the purposes of
this paragraph for any place not covered above, or
(e) an authority prescribed instead by the regulations for the
purposes of this paragraph for any place wholly or partly covered in
management of land or of
contamination of land means management in relation to the actual or possible
contamination of the land, including investigation into the existence, nature
and extent of contamination of the land and remediation of contaminated
land.management
order means an order under section 14 (1).notional
owner—see section 7.occupier of
land means the person who has the management or control of the
land.ongoing
maintenance order means an order under section 28
(2).owner:(a) in relation to Crown land:(i) that is the subject of a perpetual lease within the meaning of the
Crown Lands (Continued Tenures) Act
1989, means the holder of such a lease,
(ii) that is the subject of a lease in perpetuity within the meaning of
means the holder of such a lease, and
(iii) that is not referred to in subparagraph (i) or (ii), means the
(b) in relation to other land, does not include a person just because
the person has an interest in the land under a lease, licence or permit,
(c) in relation to land that is not Crown land and is not subject to
the provisions of the Real Property Act
1900, does not include a person merely because the person is a
investigation order means an order under section 10
(1).public
an Act, and includes:(a) a government department, or
(b) a statutory body representing the Crown (but not a State owned
corporation), or
(c) a member of staff or other person who exercises functions on
behalf of a public authority.
includes plans, specifications, maps, reports, books and other documents
(whether in writing, in electronic form or otherwise).remediation of contaminated
land includes:(a) preparing a long-term management plan (if any) for the land,
(b) removing, dispersing, destroying, reducing, mitigating or
containing the contamination of the land, and
(c) eliminating or reducing any hazard arising from the contamination
of the land (including by preventing the entry of persons or animals on the
risk includes a
long-term risk.significant
contaminant and significant
contamination—see section 11 (3).significantly
contaminated land means land described in a notice having effect
under section 11.site audit
means a review:(a) that relates to management (whether under this Act or otherwise)
of the actual or possible contamination of land, and
(b) that is conducted for the purpose of determining any one or more
of the following matters:(i) the nature and extent of any contamination of the
(ii) the nature and extent of any management of actual or possible
contamination of the land,
(iii) whether the land is suitable for any specified use or range of
(iv) what management remains necessary before the land is suitable for
any specified use or range of uses,
(v) the suitability and appropriateness of a plan of management,
long-term management plan or a voluntary management
report means a site audit report prepared by a site auditor in
accordance with Part 4.site audit
statement means a site audit statement prepared by a site auditor in
accordance with Part 4.site
auditor means a person for the time being accredited under Part 4 as
a site auditor.State includes
the Government or the Crown.substance
includes matter or thing.voluntary management
proposal—see section 17 (1).waters means
the whole or any part of:(a) any river, stream, lake, lagoon, swamp, wetlands, unconfined
(including the sea), or
(b) any underground or artesian water.
(2) The power of the EPA to order a person to take specified action
under Part 3 includes a power to order the person to refrain from taking
specified action.(3) Notes included in this Act do not form part of this
Act.5 Contamination(1) Contamination of land, for
the purposes of this Act, means the presence in, on or under the land of a
substance at a concentration above the concentration at which the substance is
normally present in, on or under (respectively) land in the same locality,
being a presence that presents a risk of harm to human health or any other
aspect of the environment.(2) Contaminate, for the purposes
of this Act, means to cause such contamination.(3) However, land is not, for the purposes of this Act, contaminated
land:(a) merely because in any surface water standing or running on the
land a substance is present in such a concentration, or
(b) merely because of the presence of a substance prescribed by the
(c) in circumstances prescribed by the
(4) Land may, for the purposes of this Act, be contaminated land even
if it became contaminated partly or entirely by the migration of contaminants
into, onto or under the land from other land.Note. See also sections 9 (Assessment of risk of harm) and 13
(Responsibility if contamination indirect or delayed or risk arises from
change of use).6 Responsibility for contamination of land(1) For the purposes of this Act, a person is responsible for
contamination of land (whether or not the contamination is significant
contamination) if any one or more of the following is true:(a) the person caused the contamination of the land (whether or not
any other person also caused the contamination of the
(b) the contamination occurred because an act or activity of the
person resulted in the conversion of a substance that did not cause
contamination of the land into a substance that did cause contamination of the
(c) the person is the owner or occupier of the land and the person
knew or ought reasonably to have known that contamination of the land would
occur and the person failed to take reasonable steps to prevent the
(d) the person carried on activities on the land that generate or
consume:(i) the same substances as those that caused the contamination,
(ii) substances that may be converted, by reacting with each other or
by the action of natural processes on the land, into substances that are the
same as those that caused the contamination,
unless it is established that the contamination was not caused by the
(2) For the purposes of this Act, a person is also responsible for
significant contamination of land if either or both of the following is
true:(a) the significant contamination occurred because an act or activity
of the person resulted in a change in some pre-existing contamination of the
land so that the contamination of the land became significant
(b) the significant contamination occurred because an act or activity
of the person resulted in a change in the approved use of the land and the
consequent increase in the risk of harm caused the EPA to identify the land as
significantly contaminated land (even if the contamination itself did not
(3) In determining whether a person is responsible for contamination
of land, it is irrelevant that the contamination did not arise
contemporaneously with the act, activity or omission of the person that
ultimately was responsible for (or is taken to be responsible for) the
contamination of the land.(4) An act referred to in subsection (2) (b) includes the making of an
application for an approval under Part 3A, or for development consent under
Part 4, of the Environmental Planning and
Assessment Act 1979.(5) A public authority or Minister does not become a person referred
to in subsection (2) (b) merely by giving an approval or consent, or
concurring in the giving of consent under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act
1979.(6) A person who is responsible for contamination continues to be
responsible for that contamination under this Act whether or not the person
has entered a contract or other arrangement that provides for some other
person to be responsible for the contamination or for any harm caused by the
contamination.7 Concept of notional owner(1) For the purposes of this Act, a notional owner of land is a
person who is a mortgagee in possession of the land or who has a vested
interest with respect to the land:(a) that carries an entitlement to have a freehold interest in the
land vested in the person, or
(b) that enables the person to dispose of or otherwise deal with a
freehold interest in the land,
so that the person is able to benefit from the value of the land, or a
substantial portion of it, by such vesting, disposal or
dealing.(2) Despite subsection (1), a person is not a notional owner of
land:(a) if the person, not being a mortgagee in possession of the land, is
the owner of the land or is the Crown or a person or body representing the
(b) merely because the person has a security (such as a mortgage,
charge or lien) over the land, or
(c) merely because the person is a legal personal representative of a
person who was an owner of the land immediately before the person’s
death or the appointment of the representative took effect,
(d) merely because the person is the NSW Trustee and Guardian and the
land is deemed to be vested in the NSW Trustee and Guardian by the operation
of section 61 of the Probate and
Administration Act 1898, or
(e) if the person would otherwise be a notional owner of land,
but:(i) the person has some security over the land,
(ii) the person (or a financial controller appointed by the person) has
entered into a contract to sell the land for the purpose of realising part or
all of the value of the land in order to discharge the obligation so
(3) In subsection (2) (e) (ii), financial controller
means a receiver, manager or other person who has possession or control of
land for the purpose of realising part or all of the value of the land in
order to discharge an obligation secured over the
land.8 General functions of EPA(1) It is the duty of the EPA to do the following in a manner and to
an extent reasonable in the circumstances:(a) examine, and respond to, information that it receives of actual or
possible contamination of land,
(b) address any contamination that the EPA considers to be significant
enough to require regulation under Division 2 of Part 3,
(c) record what it has done under paragraphs (a) and (b) and the
(2) It is the duty of the EPA to respond to a person (other than the
EPA or an authorised officer) who has furnished information referred to in
subsection (1). The response must:(a) be made in a reasonable time, and
(b) state what the EPA has done in relation to the information and the
reasons for doing it, and
(c) be in writing if the information was in
(3) In addition to any functions the EPA has under this or any other
Act, the EPA may take such reasonable steps as it considers necessary in
relation to investigating or managing contamination of land (including
significantly contaminated land) or the threat of harm from any such
contamination.9 Need to maintain ecologically sustainable
development(1) The EPA is to have regard to the principles of ecologically
sustainable development in the exercise of its functions under this Act and is
to seek the implementation of those principles in the management by other
persons of contaminated land.(2) In this section, ecologically
sustainable development and the principles and
programs that relate to it are to be construed according to their
meanings in the statements of principle set out in subsection (3) (the
of ecologically sustainable development).(3) Ecologically sustainable development requires the effective
integration of economic and environmental considerations in decision-making
processes. Ecologically sustainable development can be achieved through the
implementation of the following principles and programs:(a) the precautionary principle—namely, that if there are
threats of serious or irreversible environmental damage, lack of full
scientific certainty should not be used as a reason for postponing measures to
prevent environmental degradation. In the application of the precautionary
principle, public and private decisions should be guided by:(i) careful evaluation to avoid, wherever practicable, serious or
irreversible damage to the environment, and
(b) inter-generational equity—namely, that the present
generation should ensure that the health, diversity and productivity of the
environment are maintained or enhanced for the benefit of future
(c) conservation of biological diversity and ecological
integrity—namely, that conservation of biological diversity and
ecological integrity should be a fundamental
(d) improved valuation, pricing and incentive mechanisms—namely,
that environmental factors should be included in the valuation of assets and
services, such as:(i) polluter pays—that is, those who generate pollution and
waste should bear the cost of containment, avoidance or
(ii) the users of goods and services should pay prices based on the
full life cycle of costs of providing goods and services, including the use of
(iii) environmental goals, having been established, should be pursued in
market mechanisms, that enable those best placed to maximise benefits or
Part 2 (Repealed)Part 3 Management of contaminated landDivision 1 Preliminary investigation of land10 Preliminary investigation orders(1) The EPA may, by order in writing served on a person, direct the
person to conduct a preliminary investigation of land specified in the order
(the specified
land) within the time specified in the order to:(a) investigate whether the land is contaminated with the substances
specified in the order (the specified
substances) being the substances that the EPA reasonably suspects
contaminate the specified land, and
(b) investigate the nature and extent of any such contamination,
(c) provide to the EPA such information with respect to the
investigation as it may require.
(2) A substance may be specified in a preliminary investigation order
by reference to a chemical group of related substances if the EPA reasonably
suspects that the specified land is contaminated with one or more of the
substances in that group. In such a case each substance in that group is taken
to be a specified substance for the purposes of this
section.(3) A preliminary investigation order may be served on any one or more
of the following persons:(a) a person who the EPA reasonably suspects may have been responsible
for contamination of the land with the specified
(b) an owner of the specified land,
(c) a notional owner of the specified land,
(d) a person who carried on activities on the specified land, but only
if the activities are of the sort that:(i) generate or consume the same substance as a specified substance,
(ii) generate or consume substances that may be converted by reacting
with each other or by the action of natural processes on the land into the
same substance as any of the specified substances,
(e) a public authority.
(4) In the application of Divisions 5–7 to a preliminary
investigation order, any reference in those Divisions:(a) to significantly contaminated land is taken to be a reference to
the specified land, and
(b) to an appropriate person is taken to be a reference to a person on
whom a preliminary investigation order may be
(5) A person (other than a public authority that is not a person
referred to in subsection (3) (a)–(d)) must not, without reasonable
excuse, fail to comply with a preliminary investigation order.Maximum penalty:(a) in the case of a corporation—625 penalty units and, in the
case of a continuing offence, a further penalty of 300 penalty units for each
(b) in the case of an individual—300 penalty units and, in the
case of a continuing offence, a further penalty of 150 penalty units for each
(6) Without limiting subsection (5), a person has a reasonable excuse
if the person was unable to enter land because of the refusal of access to the
land by its occupier in circumstances where entry to that land was essential
to enable the person to comply with the relevant part of the preliminary
investigation order.Division 2 Regulation of significantly contaminated
land11 Declaring land to be significantly contaminated
land(1) If the EPA has reason to believe that land is contaminated and
that the contamination is significant enough to warrant regulation under this
Division, the EPA may declare the land to be significantly contaminated
land.(2) The declaration is to be made by notice published in the Gazette
that:(a) describes with reasonable particularity the land that is to be
significantly contaminated land, and
(b) specifies the substances that the EPA has reason to believe
contaminate the land in such a way as to warrant regulation under this
(c) states the harm that the EPA has reason to believe has been, or
may be, caused by the substances, and
(d) advises that declaring the land to be significantly contaminated
land does not prevent the carrying out of voluntary management of the land by
any person, and
(e) advises that any person may, within a period (not being less than
21 days) specified in the notice, make submissions to the EPA on whether the
EPA should serve a management order in relation to the land or on any other
matter concerning the land.
(3) Each substance that is specified in the notice under this section
contaminant and the actual or possible contamination of the land by
the significant contaminant is significant
contamination.(4) The EPA is to serve a copy of the notice on:(a) the owner of the land (or, if the EPA does not know the identity
or address of the owner, the notional owner of the land, if any, whose
identity and address are known to the EPA), and
(b) those persons (whose identities and addresses are known to the
EPA) who the EPA has reason to believe are responsible for significant
contamination of the land, and
(c) the occupier of the land, and
(d) the local authority in relation to the land,
(e) if the EPA has reason to believe that a significant contaminant of
land originates from the use of a cattle dip site on the land in relation to a
treatment ordered under the Stock Diseases
Act 1923—the Director-General of the Department of
Industry and Investment.
(5) The EPA is to publish a policy on the Department’s website
on the Internet setting out how it intends to notify the public about:(a) land that it has declared to be significantly contaminated land,
(b) land that has ceased to be significantly contaminated
and it is to notify the public in accordance with that policy. However,
failure to comply with this subsection does not invalidate any notice under
this section.12 Matters to be considered before declaring land to be
significantly contaminated land(1) Before declaring land to be significantly contaminated land under
section 11, the EPA is to take into account any relevant guidelines and each
of the following matters with respect to the substances that the EPA believes
cause the land to be contaminated:(a) whether the substances have already caused harm (for example in
the form of toxic effects on plant or animal life),
(b) whether the substances are toxic, persistent or bioaccumulative or
are present in large quantities or high concentrations or occur in
(c) whether there are exposure pathways available to the substances
(that is, the routes whereby the substances may proceed from the source of the
contamination to human beings or other aspects of the
(d) whether the uses to which the land and land adjoining it are
currently being put are such as to increase the risk of harm from the
substances (for example, use for child care, dwellings or domestic food
(e) whether the approved uses of the land and land adjoining it are
such as to increase the risk of harm from the substances,
(f) whether the substances have migrated or are likely to migrate from
the land (whether because of the nature of the substances or because of the
nature of the land).
(2) The EPA may declare land to be significantly contaminated land
under section 11 even if the possible harm could come into existence only in
certain circumstances of occupation or use of the land and those circumstances
do not exist at that time. However, the circumstances must be reasonably
foreseeable, and consistent with the approved use of the land, at that
time.13 Choice of appropriate person to be made subject to
management order(1) If the EPA makes a management order in respect of significantly
contaminated land, the order must specify one or more appropriate persons (or
public authorities that are not appropriate persons) as the subject of the
management order.(2) The EPA is to choose the appropriate persons from among the
following persons:(a) a person who is responsible for significant contamination of the
land (whether or not there may be other persons who are also
(b) an owner of the land (whether or not the person is responsible for
contamination of the land),
(c) a notional owner of the land (whether or not the person is
responsible for contamination of the land).
(3) In determining the appropriate persons, the EPA is, as far as
practicable, to specify a person referred to in subsection (2) (a) over a
person referred to in subsection (2) (b) or (c) and to specify a person
referred to in subsection (2) (b) over a person referred to in subsection (2)
(c).(4) For the purposes of this section, it is not practicable to specify
a person if:(a) there is no such person, or
(b) the EPA cannot, after reasonable inquiry, find out the identity or
location of the person, or
(c) the person, in the opinion of the EPA, is unable to pay the
person’s debts or would, if the person took steps to comply with the
management order, become unable to pay the person’s
(5) Despite subsection (2), in the case where a significant
contaminant of the land originates from the use of a cattle dip site on the
land in relation to a treatment ordered under the Stock Diseases Act 1923, the
appropriate person is:(a) except in the case referred to in paragraph (b)—the
Director-General of the Department of Industry and Investment,
(b) if a person is responsible for significant contamination of the
land (whether or not there are other persons who are responsible for such
contamination of the land) because of the operation of section 6 (2)
(b)—that person.
(6) Any public authority may be specified as the subject of a
management order whether or not as an appropriate
person.Note. A person (including a public authority) who takes action
concerning land may have rights of recovery against any relevant contaminator
of the land—see Division 6.14 Management orders(1) The EPA may, by order in writing served on a person who is an
appropriate person or a public authority, direct the person to do one or both
of the following in relation to significantly contaminated land, within such
reasonable time as is specified in the order:(a) carry out any action in relation to the management of the land
that may be specified in the order in accordance with this
(b) submit for the EPA’s approval a plan of management of the
land (a plan of
(2) The EPA must serve a copy of the management order on each of the
following persons in addition to any person on whom the management order has
been served under subsection (1):(a) the owner of the land (or, if the EPA does not know the identity
or address of the owner, any notional owner of the land whose identity and
address are known to the EPA), and
EPA) who the EPA has reason to believe may be responsible for the significant
contamination of the land.
(3) A management order may adopt, with or without modification, a plan
of management submitted in accordance with a previous management order or, at
the discretion of the EPA, a plan recommended by the EPA or submitted by a
site auditor.(4) The EPA must not serve a management order on a person unless it
has considered any submissions it has received in accordance with section 11
(2) (e) as to whether the management order should be
made.(5) Despite subsection (4), the EPA may serve a management order on a
person at any time if it considers that it is in the public interest to do
so.(6) A person (other than a public authority that is not an interested
person with respect to the relevant land) served with a management order must
not, without reasonable excuse, fail to comply with the order.Maximum penalty:(a) in the case of a corporation—1,250 penalty units and, in the
case of a continuing offence, a further penalty of 600 penalty units for each
(b) in the case of an individual—600 penalty units and, in the
98.(7) Without limiting subsection (6), a person has a reasonable excuse
to enable the person to comply with the relevant part of the management
order.(8) If land ceases to be significantly contaminated land, all
management orders in force in relation to the land cease to have
effect.15 Details of management order(1) A management order must specify the following matters:(a) the significantly contaminated land to which it
(b) the nature of the significant contamination (and the nature of any
harm that has been or may be caused) that the EPA believes may affect the
(c) the action that the person subject to the management order must
(d) a reasonable period for taking that action,
(2) The period for taking action must exceed by a reasonable amount
the period for lodging an appeal against the management order, except if the
EPA considers that the nature of the harm or possible harm presented by the
contamination is so serious that, in the public interest, action during the
period for lodging an appeal is necessary.Note. Part 6 provides for appeals.(3) A management order does not confer power on the person subject to
it to enter or do anything on land, for the purposes of giving effect to the
management order, without the consent of the occupier of the
land.16 Actions that may be required by management
orderWithout limiting section 14 or 15, a management order may require
a person who is subject to the order to do any one or more of the
following:(a) to investigate the existence, nature and extent of any significant
contamination of the significantly contaminated land to which the order
(b) to investigate the nature and extent of any harm that has been or
may be caused by the significant contamination of the
(c) to investigate the most appropriate means for undertaking
remediation of the land,
(d) to carry out remediation of the land,
(e) to monitor the effectiveness of any remediation or the risk of
harm presented by the significant contamination of the
(f) to erect a fence, wall, bund or other barrier in a specified place
(g) to treat, store or contain on the land, or remove from the land
and treat or dispose of, any solid or liquid materials including any soil,
sand, rock or water,
(h) to vacate, or cease to carry on any activity on, the land or any
(i) to display on the land any specified sign or
(j) to refrain from disturbing or further disturbing the land in a
specified manner or below a specified depth,
(k) to enter any specified land (which may, but need not, be the
significantly contaminated land) in order to carry out the management
(l) to serve notice of the management order on those persons who
occupy land, access to which is necessary for the person to carry out the
(m) to have specified actions audited by a site auditor under Part
(n) to make progress reports to the EPA,
(o) if the person finds that groundwater is contaminated, to report
that fact to the Minister administering the Water Management Act
(p) to make available for inspection by any person, free of charge, a
report on the action taken under the management order, or the plan of
management, and provide a copy of such a report or plan to any person for a
reasonable fee,
(q) to advertise and conduct meetings for the public to receive
progress reports, and to make comments, on the action taken under the
management order or on the plan of management,
(r) to inform the EPA of any change in the ownership or occupancy of
the land, to the extent that the person is aware of the
17 Voluntary management proposals(1) This section applies where one or more persons furnish the EPA
with a proposal for the management of significantly contaminated land (a
management proposal).(2) The EPA may approve a voluntary management proposal in respect of
one or more of the parties to the proposal (an approved
party).(3) The EPA may approve a voluntary management proposal
unconditionally or subject to conditions by notice in writing served on each
approved party.(4) The EPA must not approve a voluntary management proposal unless it
is satisfied that:(a) the terms of the voluntary management proposal, as modified by any
conditions to be imposed by the EPA, are appropriate (including any plan of
management, provision for giving notice and terms setting out a timetable or
requiring progress reports), and
(b) the parties to the proposal have taken all reasonable steps to
identify and find every owner and notional owner of the land and every person
responsible for significant contamination of the land, and
(c) the parties to the proposal have given those persons identified
and found a reasonable opportunity to participate in the formulation and
carrying out of the proposal on reasonable terms.
(5) Despite subsection (4), the EPA may approve a voluntary management
proposal even if it is not satisfied as to the matters set out in subsection
(4) (b) and (c), but only if the EPA makes it a condition of its approval that
the parties to the proposal cannot recover contributions under Division
6.(6) The EPA may serve a management order in relation to significantly
contaminated land that is the subject of an approved voluntary management
proposal but only on:(a) an appropriate person or public authority who is not an approved
party to the proposal, or
(b) an appropriate person or public authority who is an approved party
to the proposal, if in the opinion of the EPA:(i) the terms of the approved proposal are not carried out,
(ii) the management order relates to a matter that is not adequately
addressed by the proposal, or
(iii) its approval to the proposal was given on the basis of false or
(7) A proposal ceases to be an approved voluntary management
proposal:(a) if the EPA by notice in writing served on each approved
party:(i) specifies that it is satisfied that the terms of the voluntary
management proposal have all been carried out, or
(ii) withdraws at any time its approval of the voluntary management
(b) at the time specified in the notice, or if no time is specified,
at the time the notice is served on each approved
(8) If a proposal (other than a proposal referred to in subsection
(5)) ceases to be an approved voluntary management proposal, the approved
parties may recover contributions for carrying out requirements under the
approved voluntary management proposal in accordance with Division 6 as if the
requirements had been carried out under a management
order.18–27 (Repealed)Division 3 Ongoing maintenance of management
action28 Ongoing maintenance orders(1) This section applies to land that has been the subject of a
management order or an approved voluntary management proposal (whether or not
the land is significantly contaminated land).(2) The EPA may, by order in writing served on a person who is an
owner or occupier of land to which this section applies, direct the person to
do one or more of the following in relation to the land, commencing within
such reasonable time as may be specified in the order:(a) to carry out any ongoing management of the land that is specified
(b) to provide reports to the EPA or any other specified person at
specified periods or on the occurrence of any specified
(c) to inform the EPA of any change in the ownership or occupancy of
(d) to not carry out specified activities on the land and to not
permit other persons to carry out any such activities on the
(e) to not use the land for specified purposes and to not permit other
persons to use the land for those purposes,
(f) to carry out any other requirement in relation to the ongoing
monitoring and maintenance of the land that is prescribed by the
(3) An ongoing maintenance order is to specify when it ceases to have
effect by reference to:(a) the end of a specified period, or
(b) the occurrence of a specified event or set of circumstances,
(c) such time as the person served with the order ceases to be the
owner or occupier (as the case requires) of the
(4) A person must comply with an ongoing maintenance order that is
served on the person.Maximum penalty:(a) in the case of a corporation—600 penalty units,
(b) in the case of an individual—300 penalty
Note. An offence against subsection (4) committed by a corporation is an
98.29 Ongoing maintenance—restrictions and
covenants(1) This section applies to land that is not vested in the EPA and
that has been the subject of a management order or an approved voluntary
management proposal.(2) The EPA may, under section 88E of the Conveyancing Act 1919, impose
restrictions on the use of, or impose public positive covenants on, any land
to which this section applies for the purpose of the ongoing management of the
land and may release or vary any such restriction or
covenant.(3) A public positive covenant or restriction imposed under this
section may require any owner (for the time being) of the land to do one or
more of the following in relation to the land:(a) to carry out any ongoing management of the land that is
(4) Despite section 88E of the Conveyancing Act 1919:(a) the memorandum or deed by which the restriction or covenant
referred to in subsection (2) is imposed, released or varied:(i) need be executed only by the EPA and not by any other person,
(ii) does not require the agreement of any other person,
(b) where a restriction or public positive covenant referred to in
subsection (2) takes effect, the EPA may enforce it against any
Division 4 Action by public authority30 Public authority may step in if person fails to
actIf a person fails to comply with any requirement of an order under
this Part, the EPA may carry out the requirement or may, by notice in writing,
order another public authority to carry out that
requirement.31 Duty of public authority(1) A public authority that is subject to an order under this Part
(whether or not as an appropriate person and whether or not because of the
failure of a person to comply with an order under this Part) must comply with
that order.(2) A public authority may carry out any requirement of an order under
this Part by itself or its employees or by agents or
contractors.Division 5 Entry on land32 Refusal of entry on land(1) An order under this Part does not confer any power to enter land,
remain on land or do anything on land, without the permission of the occupier
of the land.(2) However, if the occupier withholds or withdraws that permission,
the EPA may revoke or suspend the order and instead make an order to which the
occupier is subject as if the occupier were the appropriate
person.(3) If the occupier carries out the requirements of an order, the
occupier may recover costs in accordance with Division 6 as if the occupier
was the appropriate person.33 Liability for losses(1) A person who (with the permission of the occupier) enters any
land, or does anything else on land, as required by an order under this Part,
is liable (except as prescribed by the regulations) to the occupier of the
land for any loss suffered by the occupier as a result of the entry or other
actions (including any loss suffered by the occupier because of the
interruption of the occupier’s business on that land by that entry or
those actions).(2) A person (other than the owner of land) who (with the permission
of the occupier) enters the land, or does anything else on the land, as
required by an order under this Part, is liable (except as prescribed by the
regulations) to the owner of the land for any loss suffered by the owner as a
result of that entry or those actions or for any injury to the land caused by
that person.(3) In addition to any liability that a person who enters land as
referred to in this section may have, the person has a duty to meet the
reasonable costs and expenses of the owner and the occupier of the land in
providing access to that land as referred to in this
section.(4) A person has a duty to:(a) take reasonable steps to minimise the loss and injury referred to
in this section caused by the person’s actions, and
(b) take reasonable steps towards restitution in respect of that loss
or injury (except as prescribed by the regulations), and
(c) compensate the party that suffered the loss or injury for which
the person is liable to the extent that restitution is not practicable (except
as prescribed by the regulations).
Division 6 Costs33A Recovery of money under this DivisionAn amount that is required to be paid or entitled to be recovered
under this Division may be recovered as a debt in a court of competent
jurisdiction.34 Recovery of EPA’s costsThe EPA may, by notice in writing, require a person to pay (at the
prescribed rate or amount, or if no such rate or amount is prescribed, at a
reasonable rate or amount) all or any costs incurred by the EPA in connection
with any one or more of the following:(a) preparing and serving an order under this Part to which the person
is subject or in assessing and settling the terms of any voluntary management
proposal to which the person is a party,
(b) monitoring action under such an order or under an approved
voluntary management proposal to which the person is an approved party within
the meaning of section 17,
(c) seeking the compliance of the person with any such order or
approved voluntary management proposal,
(d) any other matter associated with, or incidental to, the matters
set out in paragraphs (a)–(c),
order(1) A public authority may, by notice in writing, require a person to
pay all or any costs reasonably incurred by the public authority in connection
with the public authority’s carrying out, under section 30, of the
requirements of an order made in respect of the
person.(2) A public authority may, by notice in writing, require an owner of
land to pay all or any costs reasonably incurred (and not recovered under
subsection (1)) by the public authority in connection with the public
authority’s carrying out (otherwise than as an appropriate person) of
the requirements of an order made in respect of the land (whether or not the
order was made in respect of the owner).(3) A public authority may enter into an arrangement with the owner of
land for the payment of any cost under subsection (2), including an
arrangement for the periodic, partial or deferred payment of such a cost, or
for the compromise of any debt to which the arrangement
relates.36 Recovery of other costs(1) Person subject to order is not contaminator A person:(a) who carries out the requirements of a management order in relation
to the significant contamination of land, and
(b) who is not responsible for the significant
may recover the person’s costs in carrying out those requirements
as a portion from each person who is responsible for the significant
contamination.(2) A person:(a) who carries out the requirements of a preliminary investigation
order in relation to specific land, and
(b) who is not responsible for any significant contamination of that
as a portion from each person who is responsible for significant contamination
to that land.(3) Person subject to order is contaminator A person:(a) who carries out the requirements of a management order in relation
(b) who is responsible for the significant
may recover a portion of the person’s costs in carrying out those
requirements from each other person who is responsible for the significant
contamination.(4) Recovery by owner If:(a) an owner (or notional owner) of land pays any costs specified in a
notice under section 34 or 35 with respect to a management order,
(b) the owner (or notional owner) is not responsible for the
significant contamination concerned,
the owner (or notional owner) may recover a portion of the amount paid
from each person who is responsible for the significant
contamination.(5) Portion The portion referred to in this section must reflect what is
reasonable and just in the circumstances, including the following
circumstances:(a) the proportion of responsibility of each person for the
significant contamination,
(b) the reasonable cost of any steps taken by each person in respect
of managing the significant contamination.
(6) Reference to person In this section, a reference to a person includes a reference to a
public authority.(7) Persons entering voluntary management proposal may agree
section not to apply If the parties to a voluntary management proposal have agreed that
this section is not to apply as among themselves, this section does not apply
to allow the recovery of any costs by one party from a second party unless the
second party has failed to comply with the terms of the
proposal.(8) Costs For the purposes of this section, the costs of a person in
carrying out the requirements of a management order include any amount for
which the person is liable, or reasonable cost that the person has a duty to
meet, under section 34 or 35.37 Public authority’s priority if owner
insolventIf a public authority carries out (otherwise than as an
appropriate person) the requirements of an order under this Part in respect of
land disclaimed (by a liquidator or trustee in bankruptcy) as onerous property
in the course of proceedings for winding up or bankruptcy, the public
authority may recover the cost of carrying out the order together with a
reasonable commercial rate of interest and all associated administrative or
other costs and expenses so incurred in priority to any holder of a security
over the land.38 Limit on liability of representative or trustee(1) The financial liability under this Division of a legal personal
representative in respect of an estate (or of a trustee of property), that is
or includes or is part of significantly contaminated land, is limited
respectively to such value of the assets of the estate (or such value of the
property) as the representative or trustee may lawfully realise to meet a
liability under this Division.(2) A person is not, in such a capacity, personally liable for any
costs under this Act that relate to an order under this Part that relates to
the land and is not required to carry out such an order to a greater extent
than may be paid for by the person’s lawfully realising the assets of
the estate or the property to meet those costs or that
payment.(3) A reference in this section to a trustee of property includes the
NSW Trustee and Guardian to the extent that the property is deemed to be
vested in it under section 61 of the Probate
and Administration Act 1898.39 Registration of cost notices(1) A public authority that issues a notice to an owner of land under
section 35 (2) may apply to the Registrar-General for registration of the
notice in relation to any land that is owned by the person and was the subject
of the management order to which the notice
relates.(2) An application under this section must specify the land to which
it relates.(3) The Registrar-General must, on application under this section and
lodgment of a copy of the notice, register the notice in relation to the land
in such manner as the Registrar-General thinks fit.40 Charge on land subject to cost notice(1) Creation of charge On the registration of a notice under section 39, a charge is
created on the land in relation to which the notice is registered to secure
the payment to the public authority specified in the
notice.(2) When charge ceases to have effect Such a charge ceases to have effect in relation to the land when
the first of the following occurs:(a) the payment by the person to the public authority of the amount
(b) the completion of the sale or other disposition of the land with
the consent of the public authority,
(c) the completion of the sale of the land to a purchaser, in good
faith for value, who, at the time of the sale, has no notice of the
(3) Charge is not subject to existing charges and
encumbrances Such a charge has priority over every charge or encumbrance to
which the land was subject immediately before the notice was registered and,
in the case of land under the provisions of the Real Property Act 1900, has priority
over every mortgage, lease or other interest recorded in the Register kept
under that Act.(4) Charge not affected by change of ownership Such a charge is not affected by any change of ownership of the
land, except as provided by subsection (2).(5) Registration of charge is notice If:(a) such a charge is created on land of a particular kind and the
registration of the charge is, for the purposes of subsection (2), taken to
have notice of the charge.(6) Charge on Torrens land not effective until
registered If such a charge relates to land under the provisions of the
charge has no effect until it is registered under that
Act.(7) The provisions of this section have effect despite anything
Act 1900.41 Removal of charge(1) When a charge under this Division ceases to have effect, the
relevant public authority must apply to the Registrar-General for the
cancellation or removal of the relevant notice registered under section
39.(2) The regulations may make provision for or with respect to the
removal of a charge under this Division.42 Repayment of appropriations out of Consolidated
Fund(1) This section applies if the costs of a public authority in
carrying out the requirements of an order under this Part are partly or fully
met out of money appropriated by Parliament specifically for the management of
contaminated land.(2) If a public authority recovers, under this Division, part or all
of the cost of carrying out the requirements of the order, the authority must
repay, into the Consolidated Fund or such other fund as may be directed by the
Treasurer, a portion of the amount recovered.(3) The portion referred to in subsection (2) must reflect the
proportion that the money provided by Parliament bore to the total costs
incurred by the authority in carrying out the requirements of the
order.Division 7 General43 Multiple orders and noticesMore than one order or notice may be served under a provision of
this Part on the same person or in respect of the same land, or
both.44 Amendment or repeal of orders and notices(1) An order or notice under this Part (the original
instrument) may be amended or repealed by one or more subsequent
orders or notices (the amending
instrument).(2) An amending instrument:(a) must state the reasons for the amendment or repeal,
(b) must, as far as is reasonably practicable, be served on the
persons on whom the original instrument was required to be served,
(c) must not declare land that is not significantly contaminated land
to be significantly contaminated land unless the amending instrument is made
in accordance with sections 11 and 12, and
(d) is taken to be made under the same provisions of this Act as the
original instrument, and
(e) is not otherwise required to comply with the provisions of this
Part with respect to the making of an original
(3) Nothing in this section enables the amendment of an original
instrument so that, as amended, it would not have been in accordance with this
Act originally to make it.45 Obstruction of persons(1) A person must not wilfully delay or obstruct a person (including a
public authority) who is carrying out any action in compliance with an order
or notice under this Part.Maximum penalty:(a) in the case of a corporation—1,250 penalty units and, in the
(2) It is a defence to a prosecution for an offence under this section
if the defendant establishes that the delay or obstruction to the person
occurred in a situation in which the person was present on the land without
the permission of the occupier or contrary to the terms of the
occupier’s permission.46 EPA may issue clean-up and prevention noticesThe EPA may issue a notice or direction in accordance with Part
4.2 or 4.3 of the Protection of the
Environment Operations Act 1997 in relation to significantly
contaminated land:(a) as if it were the appropriate regulatory authority within the
meaning of that Act, and
(b) despite any order or approved voluntary management proposal
relating to the land,
and any such notice or direction is taken to have been issued under that
Act.Part 4 Site audits47 DefinitionIn this Part, a reference to a statutory site audit is a
reference to a site audit carried out in order to secure compliance with one
or more of the following:(a) a requirement under this Act,
(b) an approved voluntary management proposal,
(c) a requirement imposed by State Environmental Planning Policy No
55—Remediation of Land or by any other environmental
planning instrument made under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act
1979 or by any development consent or approval given under
(d) any other requirement imposed by or under an
unless it is carried out only in order to secure compliance with a legal
obligation arising from an agreement or arising in such other circumstances as
the regulations may prescribe.48 Statutory site audits(1) An individual must not:(a) carry out a statutory site audit, or
(b) make any representation, or cause or allow any representation to
be made, to the effect that he or she is prepared to carry out a statutory
if the individual is not accredited under this Part or while his or her
accreditation is under suspension.Maximum penalty: 600 penalty
units.(2) A body corporate must not:(a) purport to carry out a statutory site audit,
be made, to the effect that it is capable of doing
Maximum penalty: 1,250 penalty
units.49 Accreditation panel(1) The EPA is to convene an accreditation
panel.(2) The accreditation panel is to consist of 4 or more members
appointed by the EPA, each having appropriate technical expertise, of whom at
least:(a) one is to be an officer of the EPA who is to be appointed by the
EPA as the Chairperson, and
(b) one is to be a representative of community environmental groups
appointed on the nomination of the Nature Conservation Council of NSW
(c) one is to be a representative of industry, and
(d) one is to have tertiary qualifications in a discipline relevant to
the contamination of land.
(3) The functions of the accreditation panel are:(a) to make recommendations to the EPA regarding the suitability of an
applicant for accreditation, and
(b) to provide such other advice to the EPA as the EPA may
(4) The procedure of the accreditation panel is to be determined by
the EPA or (subject to any determination of the EPA) by the accreditation
panel.(5) A member of the accreditation panel holds office for such period
(not exceeding 5 years) as is specified in the member’s instrument of
re-appointment.(6) The EPA may remove a member from the accreditation panel at any
time by giving the member notice in writing.(7) A member of the accreditation panel is entitled to such allowances
in connection with the work of the panel as the EPA approves in respect of the
member.(8) Anything done or omitted to be done by a member of the
accreditation panel in exercising the functions conferred or imposed on the
panel or member by or under this or any other Act does not, if the thing was
done or omitted to be done in good faith, subject the member personally to any
action, liability, claim or demand.50 Application for accreditation as site auditor(1) An individual may apply to the EPA for accreditation as a site
auditor.(2) An application for accreditation as a site auditor must:(a) be made in the manner and form approved by the EPA,
(b) be supported by any information required by the EPA,
(c) be accompanied by the application fee (if any) prescribed by the
(3) Each application for accreditation is to be referred by the EPA to
the accreditation panel.(4) If the EPA considers it necessary in order to determine the
suitability of an applicant for accreditation, the EPA may require the
applicant to do one or more of the following:(a) to furnish to the EPA, within a specified time, any further
particulars that the EPA considers necessary,
(b) to appear before the accreditation panel for an
(c) to undergo an examination as to his or her
(5) The accreditation panel is to make a recommendation to the EPA
regarding the suitability of an applicant for
accreditation.(6) The EPA may accept or reject the recommendation of the
accreditation panel.51 Grant of accreditation as site auditor(1) The EPA is to determine an application for accreditation as a site
auditor by granting or refusing the application.(2) The EPA may refuse to grant the application:(a) if the applicant fails to comply with section 50 or a requirement
made under that section, or
(b) if, in the opinion of the EPA, the applicant fails to satisfy the
requirements of the guidelines in relation to eligibility for accreditation as
a site auditor, or
(c) if, within the period of 2 years before the date the application
was made, the EPA revoked or refused to renew the applicant’s
accreditation as a site auditor, or
(d) for any other reason that the EPA considers
(3) The EPA must give notice in writing of the determination of the
application to the applicant, including:(a) if the application is granted, notice of the period for which
accreditation is granted and any conditions to which the accreditation is
(b) if the application is refused, the reasons for the
(4) An accreditation remains in force for the period specified by the
EPA (not exceeding 3 years), subject to any revocation or suspension of the
accreditation under this Act.(5) The regulations may require an accreditation fee to be paid to the
EPA, in respect of a grant of accreditation, within the time determined by the
EPA.(6) The accreditation fee is to be calculated on the basis of the
period for which accreditation is granted.52 Renewal of accreditation(1) An application for renewal of accreditation as a site auditor
must:(a) be made in the manner and form approved by the EPA,
(c) be made within the time (if any) prescribed by the
(2) The EPA may require an applicant to furnish to the EPA, within a
specified time, any further particulars that the EPA considers necessary to
determine the suitability of the applicant for renewal of
accreditation.(3) The EPA is to determine an application for renewal of
accreditation as a site auditor by granting or refusing the
application.(4) The EPA may refuse to grant renewal of accreditation as a site
auditor on any of the grounds referred to in section 56 (1) or if the
applicant fails to comply with this section or a requirement made under this
section.(5) The EPA must give notice in writing of the determination of the
application to the applicant, including:(a) if the application is granted, notice of the period for which the
renewal of accreditation is granted and any conditions to which the
accreditation is subject, and
(6) If an application for renewal of an accreditation that is in force
is made to the EPA within the time (if any) prescribed by the regulations, the
accreditation remains in force until notice in writing of the determination of
the application is given to the applicant.(7) If the application is granted, the applicant’s accreditation
remains in force for the period specified by the EPA (not exceeding 3 years),
subject to any revocation or suspension of the accreditation under this
Act.(8) If the application is refused, the applicant’s accreditation
expires when notice in writing of the determination of the application is
given to the applicant.(9) The regulations may require an accreditation fee to be paid to the
EPA, in respect of a grant of a renewal of accreditation, within the time
determined by the EPA.(10) The accreditation fee is to be calculated on the basis of the
period for which accreditation is granted.53 Conditions of accreditation(1) The EPA may grant accreditation or a renewal of accreditation
unconditionally or subject to conditions.(2) In addition, at any time while the accreditation is in force or
suspended, the EPA may by notice in writing given to the site auditor:(a) impose conditions or further conditions on the accreditation,
(b) vary or revoke any of the conditions to which the accreditation is
(3) A condition imposed by the EPA, or the variation or revocation of
a condition, takes effect on the date specified in the notice or on the date
on which it is given to the site auditor, whichever is the
later.(4) The regulations may impose a condition on an accreditation or
class of accreditation.(5) Subject to the regulations, a condition imposed by the regulations
cannot be varied or revoked by the EPA and prevails to the extent of any
inconsistency over a condition or direction imposed or given by the EPA under
this Part.(6) A condition imposed by the EPA may also be varied by a direction
given under section 53A.Note. Contravention of a condition is not an offence but is grounds for
non-renewal, revocation or suspension of accreditation.53A Directions(1) The EPA may, by notice in writing given to a site auditor, direct
the site auditor:(a) to take specified action, or refrain from taking specified action,
relating to the conduct of a site audit or class of site audits, or the making
of site audit reports and site audit statements, or
(b) to refrain from conducting a particular site audit or class of
site audits for a specified period or until further notice by the
(2) A direction takes effect on the date specified in the notice or on
the date on which it is given to the site auditor, whichever is the
later.Note. Contravention of a direction is not an offence but is grounds for
non-renewal, revocation or suspension of accreditation.53B Site audit reports and site audit statements(1) A site auditor must make a site audit report in writing whenever
he or she carries out a site audit and furnish that report to the person who
commissioned the site audit.(2) The site audit report must contain a critical review of the
information collected in relation to the site audit and must clearly set out
the reasons for the findings proposed to be contained in the relevant site
audit statement.(3) After completing the site audit report, the site auditor must make
a site audit statement in a form approved by the EPA and must:(a) furnish that statement to the person who commissioned the site
(b) if the site audit is a statutory site audit, at the same time
furnish a copy of the statement to the EPA and the local authority for the
area in which any land the subject of the site audit is
(4) The site audit statement must contain the site auditor’s
findings in relation to the site audit and must be consistent with the reasons
set out in the site auditor’s site audit
report.(5) A site auditor must promptly furnish the EPA with any further
information, in support of or otherwise relating to a site audit report or a
site audit statement, or concerning any site audit carried out by the site
auditor, as the EPA may, by notice in writing to the site auditor,
require.(6) A site audit is to be carried out, and a site audit report and
site audit statement are to be prepared and furnished, by a site
auditor:(a) in compliance with the provisions of this Act and the regulations,
(b) in accordance with the guidelines, and
(c) having regard to the provisions of any environmental planning
instruments applying to the site.
53C Notification to EPA of statutory site auditA site auditor must, within 7 days of being commissioned to carry
out a statutory site audit by any person other than the EPA, give to the EPA a
notice in writing specifying the name of the person commissioning the site
audit and the location of the land to which the site audit
relates.53D Annual returns and other notifications(1) A site auditor who is accredited for the whole or part of a return
period must furnish the EPA with a return showing site audits commenced or
completed during that period.(2) The return must be furnished not later than the 31 July next
following the end of the return period.(3) The return must include particulars of a kind (if any) prescribed
by the regulations in respect of each site audit mentioned in the
return.(4) A site auditor must, within 14 days of any material change in the
circumstances of his or her employment or of any other change that may affect
the site auditor’s accreditation or work as an accredited site auditor,
give the EPA notice in writing containing details of the
change.(5) Without limiting subsection (4), a site auditor must, within 14
days of any of the following matters occurring, give the EPA notice in writing
of the details of the matter:(a) any change to the site auditor’s team,
(b) any change to the site auditor’s professional indemnity
(c) the commencement of any legal or disciplinary action against the
site auditor:(i) in his or her professional capacity as a site auditor,
(ii) in relation to the site auditor’s work in relation to the
management of actual or possible contamination of land, or
(iii) in relation to the site auditor’s accreditation in another
jurisdiction (including a condition or restriction placed on the
accreditation),
(6) In this section:accreditation
in another jurisdiction includes the appointment, registration,
under legislation of another jurisdiction for the carrying out of audits
relating to the actual or possible contamination of land.return
period means a year commencing on 1 July and ending on 30
June.site
auditor’s team means those persons that the site auditor has
identified, in his or her application for accreditation or renewal of
accreditation or in a notice in writing given to the EPA, as providing
expertise or technical resources to the site auditor.54 Site auditor to avoid conflicts of interest(1) A site auditor must not carry out a site audit of land:(a) if he or she is or is related to a person by whom any part of the
land is owned or occupied, or
(b) if he or she has a pecuniary interest in any part of the land or
any activity carried out on any part of the land, or
(c) if it involves the site auditor reviewing any aspect of work
carried out by, or a report written by, the site auditor or a person to whom
the site auditor is related.
(2) A site auditor has a pecuniary interest for the purposes of this
section if there is a reasonable likelihood or expectation of appreciable
financial gain or loss to the site auditor, or to a person to whom he or she
is related, from the relevant part or activity, but does not have such an
reasonably be regarded as likely to influence any decision that the site
auditor might make in relation to a site audit of the
land.(3) A site auditor is related to a person for the purposes of this
section if the site auditor:(a) is an employer, partner or employee of the person,
(b) is a spouse, de facto partner, sibling, parent or child of the
(c) has a contractual arrangement with the person that might
reasonably be seen to give rise to a conflict between the site auditor’s
duties as a site auditor and the site auditor’s interests under the
(d) is employed by the same employer as the
1987.(4) (Repealed)55 (Repealed)56 Revocation, suspension or refusal to renew
accreditation(1) The EPA may, by notice in writing given to a site auditor,
suspend, revoke or refuse to renew the site auditor’s accreditation if
it is of the opinion that one or more of the following grounds exist:(a) the site auditor no longer satisfies the requirements of the
guidelines in relation to eligibility for accreditation as a site
(b) the site auditor has contravened:(i) any of the provisions of this Part, or
(ii) any of the provisions of the regulations, or
(iii) a condition to which the accreditation is subject,
(iv) a direction given to the site auditor by the EPA under this
(c) the site auditor is not carrying out sufficient bona fide site
audits to justify continued accreditation,
(d) the site auditor’s accreditation in another jurisdiction has
been changed because of conduct that would (if it occurred in New South Wales)
authorise revocation or suspension of the person’s accreditation under
this Act,Note. Section 33 of the Mutual Recognition
Act 1992 of the Commonwealth states that if a person’s
registration in an occupation in a State is cancelled, suspended or subject to
a condition in relation to criminal, civil or disciplinary proceedings, then
the person’s registration in the equivalent occupation in another State
is affected in the same way. See also section 32 of the Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition Act 1997 of
the Commonwealth which has a similar provision in relation to disciplinary
proceedings occurring in New Zealand.
(e) the site auditor provided false or misleading information in
connection with an application for accreditation or renewal of
(f) the site auditor fails to pay an accreditation fee within the time
determined by the EPA, or such further time as the EPA may
(g) any other ground prescribed by the
(h) the action is justified having regard to:(i) the quality of the site auditor’s work in relation to site
audits in recent accreditation periods, or
(ii) any formal or informal disciplinary action taken against the site
auditor under this Act, or
(iii) any other matter that the EPA considers to be relevant to the site
auditor’s suitability for accreditation.
(2) A suspension of accreditation may be for a specified period, until
completion of specified conditions, or until further notice by the
EPA.(3) If a site auditor’s accreditation is suspended until the
fulfilment of specified conditions, the EPA must give the site auditor notice
in writing that the accreditation is reinstated as soon as practicable after
it is satisfied that the specified conditions have been
fulfilled.(4) A suspension of accreditation has effect:(a) for the period specified in the notice effecting the suspension,
(b) if no period is specified in the notice, or if accreditation is
suspended until the fulfilment of specified conditions, for the period:(i) commencing on the date specified in the notice or on the date on
which it is given to the site auditor, whichever is the later,
(ii) finishing on the date the EPA gives the site auditor notice in
writing that the site auditor’s accreditation is reinstated or
(5) An accreditation is taken not to be in force during the period in
which a suspension has effect.(6) A revocation of accreditation takes effect on the date specified
in the notice given by the EPA or on the date on which it is given to the site
auditor, whichever is the later.(7) The EPA may revoke an accreditation that is
suspended.(8) The EPA must not suspend, revoke or refuse to renew accreditation
on a ground specified in this section unless before doing so:(a) it has given notice in writing to the site auditor that it intends
(b) it has specified in that notice the reasons for its intention to
(c) it has given the site auditor a reasonable opportunity to make
submissions in relation to the proposed revocation, suspension or refusal to
(d) it has taken into consideration any submissions made by the site
(9) In this section:accreditation in
another jurisdiction includes the appointment, registration,
relating to the actual or possible contamination of
land.57 Holding out(1) An individual must not make any representation, or cause or allow
any representation to be made, to the effect that the individual is accredited
under this Part if he or she is not so accredited or while his or her
units.(1A) An individual must not make any representation, or cause or allow
any representation to be made, to the effect that the individual is authorised
by his or her accreditation to carry out a statutory site audit, or class of
statutory site audits, if the individual is prohibited from carrying out that
site audit or class of site audits by a condition of his or her
accreditation.Maximum penalty: 600 penalty
units.(2) A body corporate must not, at any time, make any representation,
or cause or allow any representation to be made, to the effect that it is
accredited under this Part.Maximum penalty: 1,250 penalty
units.Part 5 Information58 Record to be maintained by the EPA(1) The EPA is to maintain a record that consists of the
following:(a) a copy of the relevant notice under section 11 that relates to
land that is significantly contaminated land,
(b) a copy of any preliminary investigation order,
(c) a copy of any other order under Part 3 that has not been revoked
or ceased to have effect,
(d) a copy of any site audit statement furnished to the EPA under
section 53B that relates to land that is significantly contaminated
(e) a copy of any approved voluntary management proposal that has not
been fully carried out and where the EPA’s approval has not been
(f) as far as reasonably practicable, a copy of anything that was
formerly required to be included as part of the record (marked in such a way
as to show that it no longer has effect),
(g) anything prescribed by the regulations.
(2) A copy of the record (whether in electronic or other form) is to
be available for public inspection:(a) at the principal office of the EPA, and
(b) on the Department’s internet website,
(c) at such other places as the EPA thinks
(3) The EPA must, on application by any person, provide a copy of
parts of the record.(4) The record may be inspected and copies of parts may be obtained
during ordinary office hours and on payment of fees determined by the EPA (or
during such hours, and on payment of such fees, as are prescribed instead by
the regulations).(5) The regulations may prescribe any or all of the following:(a) the hours when the record may be inspected and when copies of
parts of it may be obtained,
(b) fees for the inspection of the record,
(c) fees for copies of parts of the record.
59 Local authorities to be informed(1) The EPA must, as soon as practicable after the occurrence of any
of the following in relation to land, inform the local authority for the area
in which land is situated of that matter:(a) the land being declared to be significantly contaminated land or
ceasing to be significantly contaminated land,
(b) a management order in relation to the land being served on a
person or being revoked,
(c) the EPA giving its approval or withdrawing its approval for a
voluntary management proposal in relation to the land or a voluntary
management proposal in relation to the land being completed to the
satisfaction of the EPA,
(d) an ongoing maintenance order in relation to the land being served
on a person or being revoked.
(2) For the purposes of section 149 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act
1979, the following matters are prescribed in addition to any
other matters, prescribed by the regulations under that section, to be
specified in a certificate under that section:(a) that the land to which the certificate relates is significantly
contaminated land—if the land (or part of the land) is significantly
contaminated land at the date when the certificate is
(b) that the land to which the certificate relates is subject to a
management order—if it is subject to such an order at the date when the
certificate is issued,
(c) that the land to which the certificate relates is the subject of
an approved voluntary management proposal—if it is the subject of such
an approved proposal at the date when the certificate is
(d) that the land to which the certificate relates is subject to an
ongoing maintenance order—if it is subject to such an order at the date
when the certificate is issued,
(e) that the land to which the certificate relates is the subject of a
site audit statement—if a copy of such a statement has been provided at
any time to the local authority issuing the
Note. Section 53B requires site auditors to furnish local authorities
with copies of site audit statements relating to site audits for the purposes
of statutory requirements.(3) If a local authority, under section 149 (5) of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act
1979, includes advice in a certificate in relation to a matter
set out in subsection (2) (a)–(e) that no longer applies to the land,
the authority is to make this clear on the
certificate.60 Duty to report contamination(1) A person whose activities have contaminated land must notify the
EPA in writing in accordance with this section that the land has been so
contaminated.Maximum penalty:(a) in the case of a corporation—1,500 penalty units, and in the
case of a continuing offence, a further penalty of 700 penalty units for each
(b) in the case of an individual—700 penalty units, and in the
(2) An owner of land that has been contaminated (whether before or
during the owner’s ownership of the land) must notify the EPA in writing
in accordance with this section that the land has been so
(3) A person is required to notify the EPA under subsection (1) or (2)
only if:(a) each of the following is true:(i) the substance contaminating the land (the contaminant) or any
by-product of the contaminant has entered or will foreseeably enter
neighbouring land, the atmosphere, groundwater or surface
(ii) the regulations prescribe for the purposes of this subparagraph,
or the guidelines specify, a level of the contaminant or by-product in the
neighbouring land, atmosphere, groundwater or surface
(iii) the level of the contaminant or by-product after that entry is, or
will foreseeably be, above the level prescribed or specified and will
foreseeably continue to remain above that level, or
(b) a guideline specifies a level of the contaminant in soils with
respect to a current or approved use of the land and the level of the
contaminant on or in any part of the soil on that land is equal to or above
that specified in the guideline and a person has been, or foreseeably will be,
exposed to the contaminant or any by-product of the contaminant,
(c) the contamination meets any other criteria that may be prescribed
(4) A person is required to notify the EPA under this section as soon
as practicable after the person becomes aware of the
contamination.(5) A person is taken to be aware of contamination for the purposes of
this section if the person ought reasonably to have been aware of the
contamination.(6) A notice under this section is to be in a form approved by the EPA
and is to specify the following matters to the extent that they are within the
knowledge of the person required to give the notice:(a) the location of the land,
(b) the activities that have contaminated the
(c) the nature of the contamination,
(d) the nature of the risk posed by the
(7) Information provided by a person for the purpose of complying with
this section is not admissible as evidence in any proceedings against that
person for an offence under the environment protection legislation (except in
proceedings for an offence under this section).(8) The EPA may identify land as significantly contaminated land or
make an order under Part 3 in respect of any person, whether or not the person
has notified the EPA in accordance with this
section.(9) The following are to be taken into account in determining when a
person should reasonably have become aware of contamination:(a) the person’s abilities, including his or her experience,
qualifications and training,
(b) whether the person could reasonably have sought advice that would
have made the person aware of the contamination,
(10) The regulations may exempt, or provide for the exemption
of:(a) any person or class of persons, or
from any specified provision or provisions of this section in such
circumstances (if any) and subject to such conditions (if any) as may be
specified or referred to in the regulations.(11) In this section, a reference to the level of a contaminant or
by-product of a contaminant includes a reference to the concentration of the
contaminant or by-product.Note. An offence against subsection (1) or (2) committed by a
corporation—see section 98.Part 6 Appeals61 Appeals about management orders(1) A person who is the subject of a management order may appeal to
the Land and Environment Court against the order within 21 days (or such other
period as may be prescribed) after the date of the service of the order on the
person.(2) An appeal may be made under subsection (1) even if the management
order required action to be started (or completed) during the period within
which any such appeal may be made.62 Determination of appeals(1) The Land and Environment Court may hear and determine an appeal
under this Act.(2) In determining such an appeal, the Court:(a) may confirm an order, or
(c) may revoke an order and make no further order,
(d) may revoke the order and make any other order that the EPA might
make under Part 3.
(3) An order made by the Court under subsection (2):(a) takes effect on and from a date specified by the Court,
(b) otherwise operates as if it were made by the EPA under Part
(4) The decision of the Court in an appeal under this Act is final and
binding on the appellant and the EPA.Part 7 Orders against directors or companies to manage
contamination at own expense63 Director of body corporate that is wound up(1) The Land and Environment Court may order a person to comply with a
management order at the person’s own expense if the person was a
director of, or a person concerned in the management of, a body corporate
that:(a) has been wound up within the 2 years before the Court’s
order is made, and
(b) has failed to comply with the management
(2) Once the Court has made its order under this section, the original
management order is taken to have been made against the person under Part 3,
subject to any modification by the Court. Part 3, and the other provisions of
this Act relating to orders under that Part, then apply to the order and the
person accordingly.(3) The Court may make an order under this section only if it is
satisfied, on an application by the EPA, that:(a) the person was a director of, or a person concerned in the
management of, the body corporate at the time when the management order was
(b) there is reason to believe that the body corporate was wound up as
part of a scheme to avoid compliance with the management
(4) There is reason for such a belief if:(a) the body corporate carried out one or more transactions:(i) that were voidable because of section 588FE of the Corporations Act 2001 of the Commonwealth,
(ii) that were such that the liquidator of the body corporate had a
right to recovery of cash under section 567 of the Corporations Act 2001 of the Commonwealth,
(iii) by which the body corporate incurred a debt in relation to which a
person contravened section 588G of the Corporations
Act 2001 of the Commonwealth, and
(b) there was (at the time or times when the body corporate entered
those transactions or a substantial portion of them) reason to believe that
the land was contaminated, and
(c) in a case to which regulations made for the purposes of this
section apply, the conditions prescribed by those regulations are
(5) The Court must not make an order under this section if the person
against whom the order would be made satisfies the Court that:(a) the person had no knowledge, actual, imputed or constructive, of
the scheme or any element of the scheme, or
body corporate in relation to that scheme, or
prevent the pursuit of the scheme by the body
(6) The mere fact that the relevant management order was partially
complied with by the body corporate does not exclude the possibility that
there is reason to form the belief referred to in subsection
(3).(7) For the purposes of this section, the fact that steps are taken to
wind up a body corporate before the EPA makes a management order in respect of
the body corporate does not preclude the Land and Environment Court from
finding that there is reason to believe that the body corporate was wound up
as part of a scheme to avoid compliance with the management
order.64 Director of body corporate that disposed of
land(1) The Land and Environment Court may order a person to comply with a
management order at the person’s own expense if:(a) the person was a director of, or a person concerned in the
management of, a body corporate that transferred land, to which the management
order related, within the 2 years before the Court’s order is made,
(b) the person to whom the land was transferred (the transferee) has failed to
comply with the management order.
(2) A person who is subject to an order of the Court under this
section must comply with the management order, subject to any modification by
the Court.(3) The Court may make an order under this section only if it is
satisfied, on an application by the EPA that:(a) the person was a director of, or person concerned in the
management of, the body corporate at the time of the transfer of the land or
at the time when the management order was made in respect of the transferee,
(b) there is reason to believe that the body corporate transferred the
land as part of a scheme to avoid having itself to carry out management of the
land (whether or not a management order had been made in respect of the body
(4) There is reason for such a belief if, at the time or times when
the body corporate entered into one or more transactions, or a substantial
portion of the transactions, for the transfer of the land:(a) there was reason to believe that the land was contaminated,
(b) the transferee was another body corporate that was related to the
first body corporate (within the meaning of the Corporations Act 2001 of the Commonwealth),
(c) the first body corporate had reason to believe that the transferee
was unable to pay its debts or would, if it took steps with respect to the
management of contamination of the land (to the extent that a reasonable
person would have expected, at the time or times, would be necessary), become
first body corporate in relation to that scheme, or
prevent the pursuit of the scheme by the first body
(6) The mere fact that the relevant order was partially complied with
by the transferee does not exclude the possibility that there is reason to
form the belief referred to in subsection (3).65 Holding company of body corporate that is wound
up(1) The Land and Environment Court may order a corporation to comply
with a management order at the corporation’s own expense if the
corporation was the holding company of a company that:(a) has been wound up within the 2 years before the Court’s
(2) The corporation must comply with the management order, subject to
any modification by the Court.(3) The Court may make an order under this section only if it is
satisfied, on an application by the EPA, that:(a) the corporation was the holding company of the other company at
the time when the management order was made, and
(b) there is reason to believe that the other company was wound up as
(4) There is reason for such a belief if:(a) the corporation contravened section 588V of the Corporations Act 2001 of the Commonwealth
in relation to the other company, and
(b) there was (at the time or times when the contravention occurred)
reason to believe that the land was contaminated, and
(5) There is reason for such a belief also if:(a) the other company carried out one or more transactions:(i) that were voidable because of section 588FE of the Corporations Act 2001 of the Commonwealth,
(ii) that were such that the liquidator of the other company had a
(iii) by which the other company incurred a debt in relation to which a
(b) there was (at the time or times when the other company entered
the land was contaminated.
complied with by the other company does not exclude the possibility that there
is reason to form the belief referred to in subsection
wind up a company before the EPA makes a management order in respect of the
company does not preclude the Land and Environment Court from finding that
there is reason to believe that the company was wound up as part of a scheme
to avoid compliance with the management order.Part 8 Evidence66 DefinitionsIn this Part:information relating to an
offence includes an application referred to in section 41 of the
1979.instrument
includes a notice, order or written direction.67, 68 (Repealed)69 Proof of certain matters not requiredIn any proceedings under this Act no proof is required (until
evidence is given to the contrary) of:(a) the appointment of the Chairperson of the EPA or any member of the
staff of the EPA, or
(b) the appointment of an authorised officer, or
(c) the fact that a person is, or at any relevant time was, the owner
or occupier of any land to which the proceedings
70 Documentary evidence generallyAny instrument purporting:(a) to be an instrument issued, made or given for the purposes of this
is admissible in any proceedings under this Act and (until evidence is
given to the contrary) is to be taken to be such an instrument and to have
been so signed.71 Certificate evidence of certain matters(1) A document signed by the Chairperson of the EPA (or an officer of
the EPA designated in writing by the Chairperson of the EPA for the purposes
of this section) and certifying any one or more of the matters specified in
subsection (2) is admissible in any proceedings under this Act and is prima
facie evidence of the matters so certified.(2) The matters referred to in subsection (1) are as follows:(a) that an instrument, a copy of which is set out in or annexed to
the document, being an instrument purporting:(i) to be issued, made or given for the purposes of this Act,
was issued, made or given on a specified day or was published in a
specified manner on a specified day,
specified period, accredited as a site auditor,
(d) that the authorisation of an authorised officer was, at a
specified time or during a specified period, a general authorisation or
subject to specified conditions, limitations or restrictions, or for specified
(e) that a person was or was not, at a specified time or during a
specified period, an officer or employee of the EPA or a public
(f) that an exemption was or was not given under this Act or a
regulation under this Act in relation to any specified
(g) that any such exemption was or was not, at a specified time or
during a specified period, in force or subject to specified
(h) that any exemption was or was not, or that any such conditions
were or were not, varied or revoked at a specified time,
(i) that any consent necessary for bringing proceedings for an offence
arising under this Act or a regulation under this Act has been duly
(j) that land was or was not, at a specified time or during a
specified period, significantly contaminated land,
(k) that land was or was not, at a specified time or during a
specified period, subject to an order under Part 3 set out in, or annexed to,
(l) that any guidelines made or approved by the EPA under this Act, a
copy of which is set out in or annexed to the certificate, were for the
purpose of the Act published or approved in a specified manner and on a
72 Evidence of analysts(1) The EPA may, by instrument in writing, appoint appropriately
result of the analysis or examination.(3) A certificate of such an analyst that a container containing a
sample was received at a specified laboratory and that the container was
sealed and signed by an authorised officer is admissible in evidence in any
proceedings under this Act as evidence of the facts stated in the certificate
and that the sample has not been tampered with since the authorised person
signed and sealed the container.(4) For the purposes of this section, a document purporting to be a
to be such a certificate.Part 9 Authorised officersDivision 1 Administration73 Appointment of authorised officersThe EPA may appoint any person (including a class of persons) as
an authorised officer for the purposes of this Act.74 Scope of authority(1) An authorisation of a person as an authorised officer can be given
generally, or subject to conditions, limitations or restrictions or only for
limited purposes.(2) If such authorisation is given subject to conditions, limitations
or restrictions or only for limited purposes, nothing in this Act authorises
limitations or restrictions or for other purposes.75 Identification(1) Every authorised officer is to be provided with an identification
card as an authorised officer.(2) In the course of exercising the functions of an authorised officer
by the exercise of any such function, produce the officer’s
identification card to the person.Division 2 Powers to require information or
records76 Application of DivisionThis Division applies whether or not a power of entry under
Division 3 is being or has been exercised.77 Requirement to provide information and records
(EPA)(1) The EPA may, by notice in writing served on a person, require the
by the notice in connection with any matter relating to its responsibilities
or functions under this Act.(2) For example, the EPA may require an interested person with respect
to any significantly contaminated land (or any person that the EPA has reason
to believe carries on or carried on activities on the land) to furnish to the
EPA, within a reasonable time specified in the notice, such particulars within
the knowledge of the person of any activities presently or formerly carried
out on the land as the EPA may reasonably require for the purposes of its
investigation of the land.78 Requirement to provide information and records (authorised
officers)An authorised officer may, by notice in writing served on a
person, require the person to furnish to the officer such information or
records (or both) as the officer requires by the notice in connection with any
matter under this Act.79 Manner and time for complianceA notice under this Division must specify the manner in which
information or records are required to be furnished and a reasonable time by
or at which the information or records are required to be
furnished.80 Provisions relating to information and records(1) A notice under this Division may only require a person to
furnish:(a) information within the knowledge of the person,
(b) records that are in the person’s possession or that are
within the person’s power to obtain lawfully.
(2) The person to whom any record is furnished under this Division may
take copies of it.(3) If any record required to be furnished under this Division is in
provides.Division 3 Powers of entry and search of land81 Powers to enter land(1) An authorised officer may enter:(a) any land on which the authorised officer reasonably suspects that
any activity that may cause contamination is being carried on—at any
time during which the activity is being carried on there,
(b) any land at or from which the authorised officer reasonably
suspects contamination has been, is being or is likely to be caused—at
any time, and
(c) any significantly contaminated land—at any time,
(d) any other premises—at any reasonable
(2) A power to enter land conferred by this Act authorises entry by
foot or by means of a motor vehicle or other vehicle, or in any other
manner.(3) Entry may be effected under this Act by an authorised officer with
the aid of such authorised officers or police officers as the authorised
officer considers necessary and with the use of reasonable
force.82 Entry into residential premises only with permission or
warrantThis Division does not empower an authorised officer to enter any
part of premises used only for residential purposes without the permission of
the occupier or the authority of a search warrant under this
Division.83 Powers to do things on premises(1) An authorised officer may, at any premises lawfully entered, do
anything that in the opinion of the authorised officer is necessary to be done
for the purposes of this Part, including (but not limited to) the things
specified in subsection (2).(2) An authorised officer may do any or all of the following:(a) examine and inspect any apparatus, equipment, works, vehicle or
(c) make such examinations, inquiries and tests as the authorised
officer considers necessary,
(d) take such photographs, films, audio, video and other recordings as
the authorised officer considers necessary,
(f) examine, inspect and copy any records,
(g) seize anything connected with an offence against this Act or the
(h) do any other thing the authorised officer is empowered to do under
84 Search warrants(1) Application for search warrant An authorised officer under this Act may apply to an authorised
has been contravened at any premises.(2) Issue of search warrant An authorised officer within the meaning of the Law Enforcement (Powers and Responsibilities) Act
authorising an authorised officer under this Act named in the warrant:(a) to enter the premises, and
(b) to exercise any function of an authorised officer under this Act
(3) Application of Law
a search warrant issued under this section.(4) (Repealed)85 Assistance(1) This section applies for the purpose of enabling an authorised
officer to exercise any of the powers of an authorised officer under this
Division in connection with any premises.(2) The EPA may, by notice in writing served on the occupier of the
premises, require the person to provide such reasonable assistance and
facilities as are specified in the notice within a specified time and in a
specified manner.(3) Assistance and facilities can be required under this section,
whether they are of the same kind as, or a different kind from, any prescribed
section.86 Care to be takenIn the exercise of a power of entering or searching premises under
this Division, an authorised officer must do as little damage as
possible.87 CompensationThe EPA must compensate all interested parties for any damage
caused by an authorised officer in exercising a power of entering the premises
(but not any damage caused by the exercise of any other power), unless the
damage was unavoidable because the occupier of the premises obstructed or
hindered the authorised officer in the exercise of the power of
entry.Division 4 Powers to question persons88 Power of authorised officers to require answers(1) An authorised officer may require a person whom the authorised
of which information is reasonably required for the purposes of this Part to
answer questions in relation to those matters.(2) The EPA may, by notice in writing, require a body corporate to
officer of the body corporate to be the body corporate’s representative
for the purpose of answering questions under this
body corporate.Division 5 General89 Offences(1) A person who, without reasonable excuse, neglects or fails to
comply with a requirement made of the person under this Part is guilty of an
offence.(2) A person who furnishes any information or does any other thing in
purported compliance with a requirement made under this Part, knowing that it
is false or misleading in a material respect is guilty of an
offence.(3) A person who wilfully delays or obstructs an authorised officer in
the exercise of the authorised officer’s powers under this Part is
guilty of an offence.(4) A person who impersonates an authorised officer is guilty of an
offence.Maximum penalty:(a) in the case of a corporation—1,250 penalty units, and in the
(b) in the case of an individual—600 penalty units, and in the
or answer questions(1) Warning to be given on each occasion A person is not guilty of an offence of failing to comply with a
requirement under this Part to furnish information or to answer a question
unless the person was warned on that occasion that a failure to comply is an
offence.(2) Self-incrimination not an excuse A natural person is not excused from a requirement under this Part
to furnish information or to answer a question on the ground that the
information or answer might incriminate the person or make the person liable
to a penalty.(3) Information not admissible if objection made However, any information furnished or answer given by a natural
offence under this Part) if:(a) the person objected at the time of furnishing the information or
answering on the ground that the information or answer might incriminate the
(b) the person was not warned on that occasion that a failure to
furnish the information or answer the question would be an offence and advised
that the person might object on the ground that the information or answer
(4) Further information Further information obtained as a result of information furnished
or of an answer given in compliance with a requirement under this Part is not
inadmissible on the ground:(a) that the information had to be furnished or the answer had to be
(b) that the information furnished or answer given might incriminate
Part 10 OffencesDivision 1 Proceedings for offences generally91 Proceedings for Part 3, 4 or 5 offencesProceedings for an offence arising under Part 3, 4 or 5 may be
dealt with summarily before the Land and Environment Court in its summary
jurisdiction.92 Proceedings for other offences(1) Proceedings for an offence arising under this Act or the
regulations (other than under Part 3, 4 or 5) may be dealt with:(a) summarily before the Local Court, or
(2) If any such proceedings are brought in the Local Court, the
maximum monetary penalty that the Court may impose for the offence is 100
penalty units, despite any other provision of this
Act.92A Penalty notices(1) An authorised officer may serve a penalty notice on a person if it
occurrence.(5A) Despite subsection (4), an authorised officer, whether or not the
officer by whom the penalty notice has been served:(a) may withdraw the notice within 28 days after the date on which the
notice was served, and
(b) must withdraw the notice immediately if directed to do so by the
(5B) The following provisions have effect in relation to an alleged
offence if a penalty notice for the alleged offence is withdrawn in accordance
with subsection (5A):(a) the amount that was payable under the notice ceases to be
(b) any amount that has been paid under the notice is repayable to the
person by whom it was paid,
(c) further proceedings in respect of the alleged offence may be taken
against any person (including the person on whom the notice was served) as if
the notice had never been served.
(6) The regulations may:(a) prescribe an offence for the purposes of this section by
officer means a person of a class prescribed by the regulations who
is authorised in writing by the Chairperson of the EPA as an authorised
officer for the purposes of this section.93 Time for commencing proceedings(1) Proceedings for an offence under this Act or the regulations may
be commenced:(a) in the case of a prescribed offence—within but not later
than 3 years after the date on which the offence is alleged to have been
(b) in any other case—within but not later than 12 months after
(2) Proceedings for an offence under this Act or the regulations may
also be commenced:(a) in the case of a prescribed offence—within but not later
than 3 years after the date on which evidence of the alleged offence first
came to the attention of an authorised officer, or
(3) If subsection (2) is relied on for the purpose of commencing
proceedings for an offence, the court attendance notice must contain
attention of an authorised officer and need not contain particulars of the
to the attention of an authorised officer is the date specified in the court
attendance notice, unless the contrary is
officer means any person who is an authorised officer for the
purposes of this Act, whether or not the person has the functions of an
authorised officer in connection with the offence concerned.evidence of an
offence.prescribed
offence means:(a) an offence under section 60 or 103, or
(b) an offence against this Act that is declared by the regulations to
be a prescribed offence for the purposes of this
offences94 EPA may institute proceedings(1) Proceedings for an offence against this Act or the regulations may
be instituted by the EPA.(2) Any such proceedings may also be instituted by an officer or
employee of the EPA with the written consent of the EPA or with the written
consent of such member, officer or employee of the EPA as may be authorised by
the EPA for the purposes of this Division.95 Other persons may institute proceedings with
leave(1) Any person may institute proceedings in the Land and Environment
Court for an offence against this Act or the regulations if the Court grants
the person leave to bring the proceedings.(2) The Court is not to grant leave unless satisfied that:(a) the EPA has decided not to take any relevant action (as defined in
subsection (3)) in respect of the act or omission constituting the alleged
offence or has not made a decision on whether to take such action within 90
days after the person requested the EPA to institute the proceedings,
(b) the EPA has been notified of the proceedings,
(c) the proceedings are not an abuse of the process of the Court,
(d) the particulars of the offence disclose, without any hearing of
the evidence, a prima facie case of the commission of the
(3) Relevant action for the purposes of subsection (2) is not limited
to the institution of criminal proceedings, but includes action under this Act
to require the defendant to comply with an order under Part
3.Division 3 Restraint of breaches without prosecution for
offence96 Restraint of breaches(1) Any person may bring proceedings in the Land and Environment Court
for an order to remedy or restrain a breach (or a threatened or apprehended
breach) of this Act or the regulations, whether or not any right of that
person has been or may be infringed by or as a consequence of that
breach.(2) Proceedings under this section may be brought by a person on the
person’s own behalf or on behalf of the person and other persons (with
their consent), or a body corporate or unincorporated (with the consent of its
committee or other controlling or governing body), having like or common
interests in those proceedings.(3) Any person on whose behalf proceedings are brought is entitled to
incurred by the person bringing the proceedings.(4) If the Court is satisfied that a breach of this Act has been
restrain the breach.Division 4 General97 Matters to be considered in imposing penalty(1) In imposing a penalty for an offence against this Act or the
regulations, a court is to take into consideration the following (so far as
they are relevant):(a) the extent of the harm already caused or likely to be caused by
the commission of the offence,
(b) the degree of risk that harm will be caused by the commission of
(c) the practical measures that may be taken to prevent, control,
abate or mitigate that harm,
(d) the extent to which the person who committed the offence could
reasonably have foreseen the harm caused or likely to be caused by the
commission of the offence,
(e) the extent to which the person who committed the offence had
control over the causes that gave rise to the offence,
(f) whether, in committing the offence, the person was complying with
orders from an employer or supervising employee.
(2) The court may take into consideration other matters that it
considers relevant.98 Liability of directors etc for offences by
corporation—offences attracting executive liability(1) For the purposes of this section, an executive
liability offence is an offence against any of the following
provisions of this Act that is committed by a corporation:(a) section 14 (6),
(b) section 28 (4),
(c) section 60 (1) or (2).
the commission of the executive liability offence.(7) In this section:director has the same
meaning it has in the Corporations Act
2001 of the Commonwealth.reasonable steps,
in relation to the commission of an executive liability offence, includes, but
is not limited to, such action (if any) of the following kinds as is
reasonable in all the circumstances:(a) action towards:(i) assessing the corporation’s compliance with the provision
corporation—accessory to the commission of the offences(1) For the purposes of this section, a corporate
offence is an offence against this Act or the regulations that is
capable of being committed by a corporation, whether or not it is an executive
liability offence referred to in section 98.(2) A person commits an offence against this section if:(a) a corporation commits a corporate offence, and
commission of the corporate offence.98B Evidence as to state of mind of corporation(1) Without limiting any other law or practice regarding the
had that state of mind.(2) In this section, the state of mind of a
person includes:(a) the knowledge, intention, opinion, belief or purpose of the
99 Onus of proof of reasonable excuseThe onus of proving that a person had reasonable excuse (as
referred to in any provision of this Act or the regulations) lies with the
defendant.100 (Repealed)Part 11 Miscellaneous101 Act to bind CrownThis Act binds the Crown in right of New South Wales and, in so
capacities.102 Disputes between EPA and public authorities(1) If a dispute arises between the EPA and another public authority
with respect to a decision of the EPA against which an appeal lies under this
Act or a decision to issue an order under section 30, the EPA or the public
authority may refer the dispute to the Premier for settlement in accordance
with this section.(2) On the referral of a dispute to the Premier, the Premier may (but
need not) appoint a person to hold an inquiry and make a report to the Premier
with respect to the dispute.(3) The Premier may make such decision with respect to the dispute as
the Premier thinks fit.(4) Any such decision may include an order for the payment of any
costs or expenses of or incidental to the holding of an inquiry under this
section.(5) The EPA or other public authority to which any such order is given
must comply with the order.(6) A decision of the Premier under this section is final and (except
in respect of any order under subsection (4)) is taken to be the decision of
the EPA.(7) If a dispute is referred to the Premier under this section, the
public authority (other than the EPA) does not have a right of appeal to a
court under this Act in respect of the dispute, unless the Premier declines to
deal with the dispute.103 False or misleading information(1) A person must not, in compliance or purported compliance with a
requirement under this Act, give information to the EPA or another person
knowing that, or reckless as to whether, the information is false or
misleading in a material particular.Maximum penalty:(a) in the case of a corporation—1,250 penalty units,
(b) in the case of an individual—600 penalty
(2) For the purposes of this section, information given in connection
with a site audit, a site audit report or a site audit statement is taken to
be given in compliance with this Act.(3) In this section:give
information includes make a statement, give evidence or produce a
document.104 Publicity about contaminationThe EPA may undertake education programs, public awareness
campaigns and other measures for the information of the public concerning
particular types of contamination, sources of contamination, the environmental
and health implications of contamination and how contamination may be reduced
or minimised.105 Guidelines(1) For any purpose connected with the objects of this Act, the EPA
may make guidelines (not inconsistent with this Act or the regulations) for
its own use or for the use of landowners, developers, site auditors, any other
section of the public or the general public.(2) The EPA is under a duty to do the following in relation to such
guidelines:(a) to allow the public an opportunity to comment on the guidelines
before they are made,
(b) to consider the comments of the public before making the
(c) to publish the guidelines in the Gazette once they have been
(d) to make the guidelines available for inspection by the public free
(e) to enable the public to obtain copies of the guidelines at a
(f) to take the guidelines into consideration whenever they are
(g) to depart from the guidelines in individual cases when any law
requires that departure or the interests of the public, justice or the
administration of this Act make it necessary to do
(3) The EPA is under a duty to comply with subsection (2)
(d)–(g) in relation to any guidelines approved by the EPA for the
purposes of this Act (but made by another person or body) as if they were
guidelines made by the EPA.A guideline so approved by the EPA has effect for the purposes of
this Act subject to the terms of that approval, and the approval is taken to
be part of the guideline.(4) The EPA may from time to time vary the terms of its approval of a
guideline under this section, or revoke that
approval.(4A) A guideline may amend or revoke another guideline. If an amendment
to a guideline is a minor amendment, the EPA is not required to comply with
subsection (2) (a) or (b).(5) The EPA is to give each site auditor accredited under Part 4
notice in writing of the following:(a) the making or approval of a guideline under this
(b) the amendment or revocation of any such guideline or
(6) Without limiting subsection (1), the guidelines may make provision
for or with respect to eligibility for accreditation as a site auditor under
Part 4, including in relation to the following matters:(a) relevant experience and expertise in contaminated site
(b) proven high standards of integrity and
(c) understanding of the impact of contaminated sites on the
environment, public health and safety,
(d) understanding of relevant legislation and associated
(e) understanding of the methods for assessing and managing
(f) access to relevant areas of expertise and
(g) knowledge of relevant scientific literature,
(i) any other matter prescribed by the
(7) In this section:minor
amendment includes the following:(a) the correction of a typographical or grammatical
(b) the updating of a cross-reference or contact or address
(c) any other amendment that is declared by the regulations to be a
106 Reasons for certain decisions(1) If, in the exercise of any function under this Act, the EPA makes
a decision on the basis that it does not have reason to believe that land is
contaminated in such a way as to warrant regulation under Division 2 of Part
3, the EPA must provide a written statement of the reasons for its decision to
any person who makes written request for those reasons in relation to that
land.(2) The regulations may make provision with respect to any such
statement of reasons, including:(a) the time within which a request for reasons must be made or within
which the statement of reasons must be provided, and
(b) the matters to be set out in a statement of
(3) A statement of reasons is not required to be provided to a person
if the person has already been notified of the reasons under section 8 or by
any declaration, order or notice under Part 3.107 Disclosure of information(1) A person is guilty of an offence if the person discloses any
information that relates to any manufacturing or other industrial or
commercial secrets or working processes and that is obtained in connection
with the administration or execution of this Act or the regulations, unless
the disclosure:(a) is made with the consent of:(i) the person from whom the information was obtained,
(ii) if the information relates to land—the occupier of the land,
(iii) if the information relates to an activity—the person
carrying on or proposing to carry on the activity,
(b) is required by this Act, or
(c) is made in connection with the administration or execution of this
(d) is made with the prior permission of the Minister,
(e) is ordered by a court, or by any other body or person authorised
hearing or determination by that court, body or person of any matter,
(f) is made by an officer of the EPA or other public authority to an
officer or authority engaged in administering or executing a law of the
Commonwealth or of another State or Territory relating to the protection of
(g) is made by an officer of the EPA or other public authority to any
person and its disclosure to that person is reasonably related to the
elimination or reduction of a risk of harm to human health or some other
aspect of the environment, or
(h) is otherwise made with reasonable
subsection (1) (d) unless satisfied that to do so would be in the public
interest.(3) Despite subsection (1), the EPA or a local authority may disclose
to any person a site audit report or site audit statement if the report or
statement relates to a statutory site audit within the meaning of Part
4.Note. Part 3 requires certain information to be made available. Part 5
requires information to be available on a record for public
inspection.108 Service of notices(1) Any notice, order or other instrument issued, made, served or
given for the purposes of this Act may be served on a person:(a) by delivering it personally to the person, or
place last shown in the records of the EPA or public authority that posted it
as the person’s place of residence or business, or
posted (including for example a post office box), or
(e) by sending it by facsimile or other electronic transmission
(including for example by email) to the person in accordance with arrangements
(2) This section does not affect any other mode of issuing, making or
giving a notice or instrument under any other law.109 Relationship with other Acts(1) Nothing in this Act affects the exercise of any function by the
EPA (or another public authority) under any other
Act.(2) However, the exercise of any such function must not be
inconsistent with the functions of the EPA (or of the other public authority)
under this Act.(3) If the EPA or another public authority may act under this Act and
another Act in relation to the same circumstances, it is not required to act
under both Acts.(4) Nothing in this section prevents the EPA from issuing a clean-up
notice or direction in accordance with Part 4.2 of the Protection of the Environment Operations Act
1997 or a prevention notice in accordance with Part 4.3 of
that Act.110 Effect of this Act on other rights, remedies and
proceedings(1) This Act does not limit or affect any right, remedy or proceeding
under any other Act or law.(2) No proceedings taken under this Act interfere with or lessen any
right or remedy under any other Act or law, but no person is, by virtue of
this subsection, liable to be punished twice for the same
offence.(3) A reference in this section to a right includes, for example, a
right to restrict or prevent, or obtain damages in respect of,
contamination.111 (Repealed)111A Offset arrangements(1) The Minister may, if he or she considers it to be in the public
interest to do so, enter into offset arrangements with a person responsible
for the contamination of land under which the person provides assistance
(other than direct monetary assistance) to communities affected by the
contamination.Note. Assistance may, amongst other things, include the provision of
community facilities or community services or the establishment and operation
of environmental or resource projects.(2) Despite subsection (1), the Minister is not to enter into offset
arrangements with a person who is or has been an approved party to a voluntary
management proposal in respect of land that has been the subject of that
proposal if:(a) the person has not complied with the approved voluntary management
proposal or a condition to which the proposal is subject,
(b) the voluntary management proposal was approved on the basis of
false or misleading information provided by the
(3) Offset arrangements may be entered only if the Minister reasonably
considers that it would not be practicable to remediate the contamination
within a reasonable time.(4) Offset arrangements are to be in writing and may specify the
circumstances and manner in which functions under this Act are to be exercised
if the assistance is duly provided and any such function is to be exercised
accordingly.112 Regulations(1) The Governor may make regulations, not inconsistent with this Act,
respect to the following matters:(a) guidelines under this Act,
(b) the circumstances in which a fee, or part of a fee, payable under
Part 4 may be waived or refunded by the EPA,
(b1) the circumstances in which any or all of the costs recoverable
under section 34 may be waived or refunded by the EPA,
(b2) the circumstances in which the EPA may disclose any information
obtained in connection with the administration or execution of this Act or the
regulations (including personal information within the meaning of the Privacy and Personal Information Protection Act
1998) other than information that may not be disclosed under
section 107 (1),
(c) the manner and form of any notice, order or declaration under this
(3) The regulations may create offences punishable by a penalty not
exceeding:(a) 200 penalty units in the case of a corporation,
(b) 100 penalty units in the case of an
(4) The regulations may adopt any document (including for example a
code of practice) as in force from time to time.(5) Section 12 of the Food Act
2003 does not apply to regulations or other instruments made
under this Act.113 RepealThe Environmentally Hazardous Chemicals Amendment
Act 1996 is repealed.114 (Repealed)115 Savings and transitional provisionsSchedule 2 has effect.116 Review of Act(1) The Minister is to review this Act to determine whether the policy
years.Schedule 1 (Repealed)Schedule 2 Savings and transitional provisions(Section 115)Part 1 General1 Regulations(1) The regulations may contain provisions of a savings or
transitional nature consequent on the enactment of the following Acts:this ActEnvironment Protection
Legislation Amendment Act 2002 (but only to the extent that it
amends this Act)Contaminated Land Management
Amendment Act 2003Contaminated Land Management
Amendment Act 2008(2) Any such provision may, if the regulations so provide, take effect
2 Pre-existing contaminationNothing in this Act prevents the application of a provision of
this Act to contaminated land just because:(a) the land was contaminated land before the commencement of the
(b) the risk presented by the contamination was present before that
(c) an act or activity referred to in section 6 took place before that
commencement or an existing use referred to in that section arose before that
2A Reference to Board of Tick ControlA reference in this Act to “the use of a cattle dip site on
the land under a program implemented in accordance with the recommendations or
advice of the Board of Tick Control under Part 2 of the Stock Diseases Act 1923” is
taken to be a reference to “the use of a cattle dip site on the land in
relation to a treatment ordered under the Stock Diseases Act
1923”.Part 2 Provisions consequent on enactment of this
Act3 Restoration of premises(1) Part 5 of the Environmentally
Hazardous Chemicals Act 1985, as in force immediately before
its repeal by this Act, continues in force in respect of:(a) any condition, or undertaking, in force under section 34 of that
Act immediately before the repeal, and
(b) any security held under section 34 of that Act immediately before
the repeal, and
(c) any direction in force under section 35 of that Act immediately
before the repeal, and
(d) any prescribed remedial action commenced under section 36 of that
Act before that repeal,
as if the Part had not been repealed.(2) Any prescribed remedial action commenced under section 36 of that
Act before that repeal may be completed, and costs and expenses recovered in
respect of it, in accordance with that section as if the section had not been
repealed.(3) Despite subclause (1), land that is premises in respect of which a
direction was given under section 35, or prescribed remedial action was
commenced under section 36, of the Environmentally Hazardous Chemicals Act
1985 before the repeal of Part 5 of that Act by this Act is,
for the purposes only of sections 28 (Maintenance of remediation: notice to
owner or occupier) and 29 (Maintenance of remediation: covenant) of this Act,
taken to be land the subject of remediation under Part 3 of this
Act.(4) Despite subclause (1), a direction given under section 35 of the
for the purposes only of sections 58 (EPA’s record of current
declarations and orders) and 59 (Local authorities to be informed) of this
Act, taken to be:(a) if the direction relates only to the investigation of the land
(for instance, to determine the nature and extent of the contamination of the
land, the nature and extent of the harm caused by the contamination or the
risk that the contamination will cause such harm) and not to the remediation
of the land—an investigation order, or
(b) in any other case—a remediation
(5) Despite subclause (1), any agreement to take prescribed remedial
action entered into under section 36 (2) (a) of the Environmentally Hazardous Chemicals Act
1985, or any direction to take such action given under section
36 (2) (b) of that Act, before the repeal of Part 5 of that Act by this Act
is, for the purposes only of sections 58 (EPA’s record of current
Act, taken to be:(a) if the prescribed remedial action in relation to which the
agreement was entered into or the direction was given relates only to the
investigation of the land (for instance, to determine the nature and extent of
the contamination of the land, the nature and extent of the harm caused by the
contamination or the risk that the contamination will cause such harm) and not
to the remediation of the land—an investigation order,
(6) A direction given under section 35 of the Environmentally Hazardous Chemicals Act
1985 before the repeal of Part 5 of that Act by this Act, may
be revoked by the EPA at any time by notice in writing that is, where
reasonably practicable, served on the person to whom the direction was
given.4 (Repealed)5 Present guidelines continue in forceThe following guidelines made by the EPA are taken to be in force
for the purposes of this Act as if they had been made under this Act in
accordance with section 105 (1) and (2) (a)–(c):(a) Contaminated Sites. Guidelines for
Assessing Service Station Sites, December
(b) Contaminated Sites. Guidelines for the
Vertical Mixing of Soil on Former Broad-Acre Agricultural
Land, January 1995,
(d) Contaminated Sites. Sampling Design
Guidelines, September 1995,
(e) Contaminated Sites. Guidelines for
Assessing Banana Plantation Sites, October
Part 3 Provisions consequent on enactment of the Environment Protection Legislation Amendment Act
20026 Accreditation of site auditorsThe accreditation of a site auditor in force immediately before
the amendment of section 50 (1) by the Environment Protection Legislation Amendment Act
2002 expires (if not revoked under this Act) on the date on
which it would have expired if the amendment had not been made and may be
renewed in accordance with that section as so amended.Part 4 Provisions consequent on enactment of the Contaminated Land Management Amendment Act
20037 Recovery of costsSection 36, as amended by the Contaminated Land Management Amendment Act
2003, extends to costs incurred before the amendment of that
section by that Act if those costs were incurred on or after 1 September
1998.8 Existing accreditation as a site auditor and
suspension(1) An accreditation (including any conditions to which the
accreditation is subject) in force immediately before the commencement of
Schedule 1 [10] to the Contaminated Land
Management Amendment Act 2003 (the amending Act), continues
in force for the balance of the term for which it was
granted.(2) An accreditation referred to in subclause (1) is taken to have
been validly granted or renewed, and any condition to which the accreditation
is subject is taken to have been validly imposed, under Part 4 of this Act as
amended by the amending Act.(3) A suspension in effect immediately before the commencement of
Schedule 1 [10] to the amending Act, continues to have effect until further
notice by the EPA. The suspension is taken to have effect under Part 4 of this
Act as amended by the amending Act and section 56 applies
accordingly.9 Revocation, suspension or refusal to renew
accreditationSection 56, as substituted by the Contaminated Land Management Amendment Act
2003, extends to acts or omissions occurring before the
substitution of that section by that Act.10 Members of accreditation panelA member of the accreditation panel holding office immediately
before the commencement of section 49 (as substituted by the Contaminated Land Management Amendment Act
2003), is taken, on that commencement, to be appointed under
section 49 as substituted and this Act applies
accordingly.11 Annual returns and other notificationsDespite the definition of return period in section 53D
(6), the return period for the year ending 30 June 2007 is, for the purposes
of section 53D, to commence on 1 March 2006 rather than 1 July
2006.Part 5 Provisions consequent on enactment of the Contaminated Land Management Amendment Act
200812 DefinitionIn this Part:the amending
Act means the Contaminated Land
Management Amendment Act 2008.13 Orders, declarations and voluntary proposals(1) Land that is an investigation area or a remediation site
immediately before the substitution of Division 2 of Part 3 by the amending
Act is, on the substitution of that Division, taken to be significantly
contaminated land.(2) An investigation order or remediation order that is in force
Act is, on the substitution of that Division, taken to be a management order
that is in force on the same terms as the investigation order or remediation
order.(3) A voluntary investigation proposal or voluntary remediation
proposal that has been agreed to by the EPA and that has not been fully
carried out immediately before the substitution of Division 2 of Part 3 by the
amending Act is, on the substitution of that Division, taken to be an approved
voluntary management proposal in force on the same terms as the voluntary
investigation proposal or voluntary remediation
proposal.(4) In relation to any investigation area, remediation site,
investigation order, remediation order, voluntary investigation proposal or
voluntary remediation proposal to which this clause applies the following
references (whether in the order or proposal or elsewhere) are, on and from
the substitution of Division 2 of Part 3 by the amending Act, to be read as
follows:(a) a reference to an investigation area or a remediation site is
taken to be a reference to significantly contaminated
(b) a reference to an investigation order or remediation order is
taken to be a reference to a management order,
(c) a reference to a voluntary investigation proposal or voluntary
remediation proposal that has been agreed to by the EPA is taken to be a
reference to an approved voluntary management proposal and a reference to a
party to such a voluntary investigation proposal or voluntary remediation
proposal is taken to be a reference to an approved party,
(d) a reference to land being contaminated in such a way as to present
a significant risk of harm is taken to be a reference to contamination that
the EPA considers to be significant enough to warrant regulation under
Division 2 of Part 3 of this Act.
(5) Subclause (4) (d) does not apply to a reference in a
guideline.14 Public consultationFor the purposes of section 14 (4), the EPA is taken to have
considered submissions under section 11 (2) (e) if, in respect of the land to
which the proposed management order is to apply, the EPA has, before the
substitution of Division 2 of Part 3 by the amending Act, considered
submissions under section 17 (2) or 23 (3).15 Voluntary management proposalsSection 17 (6) does not apply to a voluntary investigation
proposal or voluntary remediation proposal that is taken, because of clause
13, to be an approved voluntary management proposal and section 20 or 27 (as
the case may be) as in force immediately before the substitution of Division 2
of Part 3 by the amending Act continues to apply in respect of those
proposals.16 Maintenance of remediation(1) A notice issued under section 28 and in force immediately before
the substitution of that section by the amending Act continues in force and is
taken to have been issued under section 28 as
substituted.(2) A reference in section 28 (1) or 29 (1) to land that has been the
subject of a management order or an approved voluntary management proposal
includes land that was, before the substitution of Division 2 of Part 3 by the
amending Act:(a) the subject of an investigation order or a remediation order,
(b) the subject of a voluntary investigation proposal or voluntary
remediation proposal that has been agreed to by the EPA under section 19 or
(3) A covenant imposed by the EPA under section 29 before the
substitution of that section by the amending Act may be released or varied
under section 29 (2) as substituted by the amending
Act.(4) Land that is taken to be land the subject of remediation under
Part 3 because of the operation of clause 3 (3) is, on the substitution of
section 28 by the amending Act, taken to be land the subject of a management
order.17 Cost recoverySections 34 and 35 as substituted by the amending Act apply only
in respect of an order made under Part 3, or a voluntary management proposal
furnished to the EPA, after that substitution and in any other case those
sections apply as they were immediately before that
substitution.18 Penalty noticesSection 92A (5A) and (5B), as inserted by the amending Act, extend
to a penalty notice served before the commencement of those
subsections.19 Disclosure of informationSection 107 (3), as inserted by the amending Act, extends to
information obtained by the EPA before the commencement of that
subsection.20 RecordsA reference in clause 3 to section 58 or 59 includes a reference
to those sections as substituted by the amending Act.Historical notesThe following abbreviations are used in the Historical notes:
Am amended LW legislation website Sch Schedule Cl clause No number Schs Schedules Cll clauses p page Sec section Div Division pp pages Secs sections Divs Divisions Reg Regulation Subdiv Subdivision GG Government Gazette Regs Regulations Subdivs Subdivisions Ins inserted Rep repealed Subst substituted Table of amending instrumentsContaminated Land Management
Act 1997 No 140. Assented to 17.12.1997. Date of commencement
of Parts 1, 4, 8 and 10, secs 101, 103, 105, 108 and 110–116, Schs 1.3
[3] and [4] and 1.5, cll 1 and 5 of Sch 2, 1.6.1998, sec 2 and GG No 79 of
15.5.1998, p 3368; date of commencement of the remainder (except sec 60),
1.9.1998, sec 2 and GG No 123 of 21.8.1998, p 6171; date of commencement of
sec 60, 1.7.1999, sec 2 and GG No 66 of 4.6.1999, p 3774. This Act has been
1998. Assented to 30.6.1998.Date of commencement of Sch 1.5, 1.9.1998, Sch 1.5 and GG No 123 of
1998. Assented to 26.11.1998.Date of commencement of Sch 1.9, assent, sec 2
Provisions) Act 1999. Assented to 7.7.1999.Date of commencement of Sch 1.9, assent, sec 2
Provisions) Act (No 2) 1999. Assented to 3.12.1999.Date of commencement of Sch 2.7, assent, sec 2 (2); date of commencement
2000. Assented to 8.12.2000.Date of commencement of Sch 8.3, 1.1.2001, sec 2 and GG No 168 of
Provisions) Act (No 2) 2000. Assented to 8.12.2000.Date of commencement of Sch 2.9, assent, sec 2
Amendments) Act 2001. Assented to 28.6.2001.Date of commencement of Sch 4.9, 15.7.2001, sec 2 (1) and Commonwealth
Legislation Amendment Act 2002. Assented to 15.5.2002.Date of commencement of Sch 1, 28.6.2002, sec 2 and GG No 102 of
No 91Contaminated Land Management
Amendment Act 2003. Assented to 10.12.2003.Date of commencement, 1.2.2004, sec 2 and GG No 16 of 23.1.2004, p
Provisions) Act 2004. Assented to 6.7.2004.Date of commencement of Sch 2.4, 1.2.2004, Sch
Provisions) Act 2007. Assented to 4.7.2007.Date of commencement of Sch 1.9, assent, sec 2
Amendment Act 2008. Assented to 10.12.2008.Date of commencement of Sch 1 [1]–[4] [6]–[9] [11] [12]
[14]–[26] [28] [32] [33] [35] [38] [39] [41] [43] [46] [47] and [56],
1.7.2009, sec 2 (1) and 2009 (253) LW 26.6.2009; date of commencement of Sch 1
[5] [10] [13] [27] [29]–[31] [34] [36] [37] [40] [42] [44] [45]
[48]–[55] and [57]–[61], assent, sec 2
Provisions) Act 2010. Assented to 28.6.2010.Date of commencement of Sch 2.16, 9.7.2010, sec 2
2011No 63Protection of the Environment
Legislation Amendment Act 2011. Assented to 16.11.2011.Date of commencement of Sch 3.1, 29.2.2012, sec 2 and 2012 (13) LW
Sec 3Am 2008 No 111, Sch 1
[1]–[3].Sec 4Am 1998 No 120, Sch 1.9 [1]; 2003 No 91, Sch 1 [1];
2008 No 111, Sch 1 [4] [5]; 2011 No 63, Sch 3.1 [1] [2].Part 2, headingRep 2008 No 111, Sch 1 [6].Sec 6Subst 2008 No 111, Sch 1 [6].Sec 7Subst 2008 No 111, Sch 1 [6]. Am 2012 No 95, Sch
2.6.Secs 8, 9Subst 2008 No 111, Sch 1 [6].Part 3, headingSubst 2008 No 111, Sch 1 [7].Part 3, Div 1Subst 2008 No 111, Sch 1 [8].Sec 10Rep 2008 No 111, Sch 1 [6]. Ins 2008 No 111, Sch 1
[8].Part 3, Div 2Subst 2008 No 111, Sch 1 [8].Sec 11Subst 2008 No 111, Sch 1 [8]. Am 2010 No 59, Sch
2.16.Sec 12Subst 2008 No 111, Sch 1 [8].Sec 13Subst 2008 No 111, Sch 1 [8]. Am 2010 No 59, Sch
2.16.Sec 14Am 2006 No 80, Sch 3.4 [1]. Subst 2008 No 111, Sch
1 [8]. Am 2012 No 97, Sch 1.5 [1].Secs 15, 16Subst 2008 No 111, Sch 1 [8].Sec 17Am 1999 No 31, Sch 1.9 [1]. Subst 2008 No 111, Sch
1 [8].Sec 18Am 2000 No 92, Sch 8.3. Rep 2008 No 111, Sch 1
[8].Secs 19, 20Rep 2008 No 111, Sch 1 [8].Secs 21, 22Rep 2008 No 111, Sch 1 [9].Sec 23Am 1999 No 31, Sch 1.9 [2]. Rep 2008 No 111, Sch 1
[9].Sec 24Am 1999 No 31, Sch 1.9 [3]–[7]. Rep 2008 No
111, Sch 1 [9].Secs 25–27Rep 2008 No 111, Sch 1 [9].Part 3, Div 3Subst 2008 No 111, Sch 1 [9].Sec 28Subst 2008 No 111, Sch 1 [9]. Am 2012 No 97, Sch
1.5 [2].Sec 29Subst 2008 No 111, Sch 1 [9].Part 3, Divs 4, 5 (secs 30–33)Subst 2008 No 111, Sch 1 [9].Part 3, Div 6Subst 2008 No 111, Sch 1 [9].Sec 33AIns 2008 No 111, Sch 1 [9].Secs 34, 35Subst 2008 No 111, Sch 1 [9].Sec 36Am 1999 No 31, Sch 1.9 [8]–[11]; 2003 No 91,
Sch 1 [2] [3]. Subst 2008 No 111, Sch 1 [9].Sec 37Subst 2008 No 111, Sch 1 [9].Sec 38Am 2006 No 80, Sch 3.4 [2]. Subst 2008 No 111, Sch
1 [9]. Am 2012 No 95, Sch 2.6.Sec 39Subst 2008 No 111, Sch 1 [9].Sec 40Am 2009 No 17, Sch 3.4. Subst 2008 No 111, Sch 1
[9]. Am 2009 No 106, Sch 2.6.Secs 41, 42Subst 2008 No 111, Sch 1 [9].Part 3, Div 7 (secs 43–46)Subst 2008 No 111, Sch 1 [9].Part 4, headingSubst 2008 No 111, Sch 1 [10].Sec 47Am 1999 No 31, Sch 1.9 [12]; 2003 No 91, Sch 1
[4]–[8]. Subst 2008 No 111, Sch 1 [11].Sec 48Am 2003 No 91, Sch 1 [9].Sec 49Subst 2003 No 91, Sch 1 [10].Sec 50Am 1998 No 120, Sch 1.9 [2]; 2002 No 14, Sch 1
[1]–[7]. Subst 2003 No 91, Sch 1 [10].Sec 51Am 1998 No 120, Sch 1.9 [3]. Subst 2003 No 91, Sch
1 [10].Sec 52Subst 2003 No 91, Sch 1 [10].Sec 53Am 1999 No 31, Sch 1.9 [13]; 2002 No 14, Sch 1 [8]
[9]. Subst 2003 No 91, Sch 1 [10].Secs 53A–53CIns 2003 No 91, Sch 1 [10].Sec 53DIns 2003 No 91, Sch 1 [10]. Am 2006 No 120, Sch 1.5
[1] [2]; 2008 No 111, Sch 1 [12].Sec 54Am 2003 No 91, Sch 1 [11] [12]; 2008 No 23, Sch
3.13; 2010 No 19, Sch 3.22 [1] [2].Sec 55Subst 2003 No 91, Sch 1 [13]. Rep 2008 No 111, Sch
1 [13].Sec 56Am 1998 No 120, Sch 1.9 [4]. Subst 2003 No 91, Sch
1 [13].Sec 57Am 2003 No 91, Sch 1 [14].Sec 58Am 2004 No 55, Sch 2.4 [1]; 2008 No 111, Sch 1
[14].Sec 59Am 2004 No 55, Sch 2.4 [2] [3]. Subst 2008 No 111,
Sch 1 [15].Sec 60Subst 2008 No 111, Sch 1 [15]. Am 2012 No 97, Sch
1.5 [3].Sec 61Subst 2008 No 111, Sch 1 [16].Sec 62Am 2000 No 93, Sch 2.9
[1]–[5].Part 7, headingAm 2008 No 111, Sch 1 [17].Sec 63Am 2001 No 34, Sch 4.9 [1]; 2008 No 111, Sch 1
[18]–[21].Sec 64Am 2001 No 34, Sch 4.9 [2]; 2008 No 111, Sch 1 [18]
[19] [22]–[26].Sec 65Am 2001 No 34, Sch 4.9 [3] [4]; 2008 No 111, Sch 1
[18] [19].Sec 66Am 2008 No 111, Sch 1 [27].Secs 67, 68Rep 2008 No 111, Sch 1 [28].Sec 69Am 2008 No 111, Sch 1 [29]; 2011 No 63, Sch 3.1
[3].Sec 71Am 1998 No 120, Sch 1.9 [5] [6]; 2008 No 111, Sch 1
[30]–[32]; 2011 No 63, Sch 3.1 [4].Sec 77Am 2008 No 111, Sch 1 [33]
[34].Sec 81Am 2008 No 111, Sch 1 [35].Sec 84Am 2002 No 103, Sch 4.14
[1]–[4].Sec 89Am 2008 No 111, Sch 1 [36].Sec 92Am 1999 No 85, Sch 2.7; 2001 No 121, Sch 2.59 [1];
2007 No 94, Sch 2.Sec 92AIns 2007 No 27, Sch 1.9. Am 2008 No 111, Sch 1
[37]; 2011 No 63, Sch 3.1 [4].Sec 93Am 2001 No 121, Sch 2.59 [2] [3]; 2008 No 111, Sch
1 [38].Sec 95Am 2008 No 111, Sch 1 [39].Sec 98Subst 2008 No 111, Sch 1 [40]; 2012 No 97, Sch 1.5
[4].Secs 98A, 98BIns 2012 No 97, Sch 1.5 [4].Sec 100Rep 2000 No 93, Sch 2.9 [6].Sec 102Am 2008 No 111, Sch 1 [41].Sec 103Subst 2008 No 111, Sch 1 [42].Sec 104Am 2008 No 111, Sch 1 [43].Sec 105Am 2003 No 91, Sch 1 [15]; 2008 No 111, Sch 1 [44]
[45].Sec 106Am 2008 No 111, Sch 1 [46]
[47].Sec 107Am 2008 No 111, Sch 1 [48].Sec 108Am 2008 No 111, Sch 1 [49].Sec 109Am 2008 No 111, Sch 1 [50].Sec 111Rep 2008 No 111, Sch 1 [51].Sec 111AIns 2008 No 111, Sch 1 [52].Sec 112Am 2003 No 43, Sch 1.1; 2003 No 91, Sch 1 [16];
2008 No 111, Sch 1 [53].Sec 114Rep 1999 No 85, Sch 4.Sch 1Rep 1999 No 85, Sch 4.Sch 2Am 1998 No 54, Sch 1.5; 1998 No 120, Sch 1.9 [7];
2000 No 93, Sch 2.9 [7]; 2002 No 14, Sch 1 [10] [11]; 2003 No 91, Sch 1 [17]
[18]; 2006 No 120, Sch 1.5 [3]; 2007 No 82, Sch 1.1; 2008 No 111, Sch 1
[54]–[61].