Organisational structure Our vision An environment that is highly valued and protected Our purpose We support the EPA and work with other departments, industry and the community to ensure environmental values are protected and development is managed in an environmentally responsible manner. Performance management framework Each year the OEPA is required to meet a number of targets set by the State Government. These targets relate to Government-desired outcomes, financial management, services to be delivered and performance targets to be achieved. The agreement is a transparent way for the State Government to monitor the operational performance of the OEPA. The OEPA evaluates, measures and reports on the effectiveness of its services in achieving its desired agency level outcomes through Key Performance Indicators or ‘KPIs’. KPIs comprise both Effectiveness and Efficiency Indicators. Effectiveness Indicators show the extent to which the department achieved its department-level outcome and the Efficiency Indicators show the cost of services delivered by the department. New KPIs were developed during 2013–14 and were applied during 2014–15. The OEPA’s management framework is consistent with the Government goal for social and environmental responsibility, which is to ensure that economic activity is managed in a socially and environmentally responsible manner for the long-term benefit of the State. The desired outcome is provision of quality advice to the EPA and the Minister for Environment on significant proposals, compliance and environmental issues. To achieve this outcome, the OEPA performs three services:
During 2014–15, the EPA completed 31 reports, with the type and number of assessments shown in Table 1. A list of all proposals assessed is shown in Appendix 1. Table 1: Completed assessments TYPE OF ASSESSMENT 2013-14 2014-15 Public Environmental Review and Environmental Review and Management Programme 9 6 Assessment on Proponent Information – Category A 8 9 Assessment on Proponent Information – Category B - 2 Changes to Conditions – Section 46 16 14 Derived proposal – Section 46(6) 1 - Planning – Section 48A 1 - TOTAL 35 31 Table 1 includes EPA Report 1550 which was completed and transmitted to the Minister for Environment in June 2015, but released publicly on 2 July 2015. Environmental impact assessment of mining proposals Overview The EPA completed 12 assessments for mining proposals during 2014–15: three Public Environmental Review (PER)/Environmental Review and Management Programme (ERMP) assessments, seven Assessment on Proponent Information (API) – Category A assessments and two API – Category B assessments. Iron ore proposals dominated the completed assessments with 10 (83%) of the assessments relating to iron ore proposals. Of the iron ore assessments, 60% were for proposals in the Pilbara Region and 40% were for proposals on the Yilgarn Craton geological formation in the Midwest and Goldfields regions.
The referral form update project was initiated to ensure the forms reflected the contemporary suite of the EPA’s policy and guidance and to ensure that targeted and sufficient information was provided to the EPA to assist in the determination on whether or not assessment is required and the appropriate level of assessment. Before finalising and publishing the new forms, the OEPA consulted and trialled versions with industry, DMAs and key stakeholders. This consultative approach received positive feedback and ensured the new forms meet the requirements of the EPA and key users. Since their release in January, the OEPA has noticed a marked improvement in the provision of succinct and relevant information on proposals, schemes and scheme amendments. Online lodgement of referral documentation has been identified as a targeted improvement for the OEPA’s information management team, and the update of the referral forms has been a key first step in this process, which will continue during 2015–16. Public consultation The public are encouraged to: participate in consultation by offering advice, identifying omitted relevant data/information, providing knowledge and proposing alternatives; participate in strategic policy and planning as appropriate, since engagement at these earlier stages may influence the development and evaluation of future proposals; be informed of the administration and outcomes of EIA; and take a responsible approach to opportunities for engagement in the EIA process, including being informed of objective information about the environmental issues. Environmental Impact Assessment (Part IV Divisions 1 and 2) Administrative Procedures 2012 To facilitate public participation, all opportunities to comment and make formal submissions on matters before the EPA can be found on the OEPA’s “consultation hub” at https://consultation.epa.wa.gov.au. The OEPA also prefers responses be made through the hub. It provides a comprehensive platform for online consultation that enables the EPA to: manage all its consultation activity; create consultations and surveys; publicise and promote EIA consultations; analyse and report on responses; and feed back to the public.
Summary of Consolidated Account Appropriations and Income Estimates Statement of Comprehensive Income Variance Note Original Budget 2015 Actual 2015 Actual 2014 Variance between estimate and actual Variance between actual result for 2015 and 2014 $’000 $’000 $’000 $’000 $’000 COST OF SERVICES Expenses Employee benefits expense 12,449 11,638 12,069 (811) (431) Accommodation expense 1 - 826 849 (826) (23) Supplies and services 2,A 2,267 1,574 2,363 (693) (789) Depreciation and amortisation expense 3 50 197 202 147 (5) Grants and Subsidies B - - 110 - (110) expenses 4,C 181 325 450 144 (124) Total cost of services 14,947 14,560 16,043 (387) (1,482) Income Revenue Other revenue 5,D 150 20 88 (130) (67) Total Revenue 150 20 88 (130) (67) Gains Gain on disposal of non-current assets - 9 - 9 9 Gains - 9 - 9 9 Total income other than income from State Government 150 29 88 (121) 58 NET COST OF SERVICES 14,797 14,531 15,955 (266) (1,424) Income from State Government Service appropriation 14,725 14,996 14,533 271 463 Services received free of charge - 79 100 79 (21) Royalties for Regions Fund E - - 390 - (390) Total income from State Government 14,725 15,075 15,023 350 52 SURPLUS/(DEFICIT) FOR THE PERIOD (72) 544 (932) 616 1,476 TOTAL COMPREHENSIVE INCOME FOR THE PERIOD (72) 544 (932) 616 1,476
Ageing analysis of financial assets Past due but not impaired Carrying Amount Not past due and not impaired Up to 1 month 1-3 months 3 months to 1 year 1-5 More than 5 years Impaired financial assets $000 $000 $000 $000 $000 $000 $000 $000 2015 Cash and cash equivalents 184 184 - - - - - - Restricted cash and cash equivalents 354 354 - - - - - - Receivables(a) 103 - 103 - - - - - Amounts receivable for services 594 594 - - - - - - 1,235 1,132 103 - - - - - 2014 Cash and cash equivalents 199 199 - - - - - - Restricted cash and cash equivalents 511 511 - - - - - - Receivables(a) 87 - 74 - 13 - - - Amounts receivable for services 631 631 - - - - - - 1,428 1,341 74 - 13 - - - The amount of receivables excludes the GST recoverable from the ATO (statutory receivable). Liquidity risk and interest rate exposure The following table details the Department’s interest rate exposure and the contractual maturity analysis of financial assets and financial liabilities. The maturity analysis section includes interest and principal cash flows. The interest rate exposure section analyses only the carrying amounts of each item. Interest rate exposure and maturity analysis of financial assets and financial liabilities Interest rate exposure (Nil) Maturity dates
Ministerial directives No Ministerial Directives were received during the 2014–15 financial year. Other financial disclosures (TI 903) Pricing policies of services provided The department is fully funded from appropriations and does not charge any fee for service. Governance disclosures (TI 903) Contracts with senior officers At the date of reporting, senior officers of the department held no contracts with the department other than normal employment contracts. No senior officers of the department had substantial interests in entities with existing or proposed contracts or agreements with the department. Board remuneration The OEPA reports the following remuneration to the Environmental Protection Authority for 2014–15: Position Name Type of remuneration Period of membership Gross/actual remuneration Chair Dr Paul Vogel Annual 5/11/2007 – 4/11/2015 $425,125 Deputy Chair Mr Robert Harvey Annual 18/11/2012 – 17/11/2015 $88,845 Member Dr Tom Hatton Annual 18/11/2014 – 17/11/2019 $26,701 Member Ms Elizabeth Carr Annual 4/10/2011 – 3/10/2019 $44,422 Member Dr Rodney Lukatelich Annual 31/10/2009 – 17/11/2014 $17,478 Member Mr Glen McLeod Annual 21/10/2013 – 20/10/2016 $44,422 Total: $646,993 Remuneration for the Chairman includes superannuation and vehicle expenses. Remuneration for the Deputy Chair and Members includes superannuation.