The Government of Western Australia is seeking public comment on climate change issues and opportunities and has released an issues paper.
You are invited to share your views by making a submission to the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation.
We are seeking your feedback on the issues and questions outlined in the Climate Change in Western Australia – Issues Paper to help inform the development of WA’s new state climate policy.
...More
The Government of Western Australia sought public comment on proposed amendments to the Environmental Protection Act 1986 and released a discussion paper and an Exposure draft Bill .
The amendments aim to improve regulatory efficiency and effectiveness and facilitate the implementation of the bilateral agreements under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 to deliver better environmental protection and sustainable development outcomes.
The...More
The Government of Western Australia and the City of Perth are working together to engage the community in discussions about how to manage noise from amplified music. The proposed reforms are aimed at balancing the competing needs of entertainment venues, other businesses and residents in vibrant entertainment precincts such as Northbridge.
We sought feedback on the issues and questions outlined in the consultation paper: Managing amplified music noise in entertainment precincts . ...More
In 2020, the department called for public comments on the Review of the waste levy consultation paper .
The consultation paper sought the input of key waste stakeholders as part of the evidence to inform the review. The issues canvassed by the paper included:
waste levy rates, including a future schedule of rates
the geographical area of the waste levy, and whether it should be expanded
applying the waste levy to other waste management methods, such as energy recovery...More
The waste reform paper Closing the loop contains detailed legislative proposals to improve waste management and the waste levy in Western Australia, and has been published as a consultation regulatory impact statement.
The consultation paper follows a 2017 discussion paper published by the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation that outlined legislative proposals to improve the waste levy framework and environmental protection regime. During that process, respondents...More
The Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (the department) is developing new guidance to provide external stakeholders with further information on how the department carries out its regulatory functions under Part V Division 2 of the Environmental Protection Act 1986.
We are currently seeking feedback on the draft Guideline: Reduction, waiver or refund of clearing permit application fees .
The draft guideline provides information on when and how the...More
Overview
The Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (the department) is producing a series of industry specific guidelines to provide external stakeholders further information on how the department carries out its regulatory functions under Part V Division 3 of the Environmental Protection Act 1986.
The draft Guideline: Better practice composting is the first guideline developed in this series. The guideline was developed by the department in...More
In September 2020, the Government of Western Australia released a discussion paper seeking feedback on the review of the Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery Act 2007, the principal legislation for waste management in Western Australia.
The Act requires that the legislation be reviewed every five years. The review sought to consider the effectiveness of the legislation in meeting its objectives for reducing waste and encouraging resource recovery and its alignment...More
The Government of Western Australia has released the Waste not, want not: Valuing waste as a resource discussion paper , and is seeking feedback on the proposed legislative framework for waste-derived materials.
The proposed legislative amendments will provide certainty about when waste-derived materials are no longer waste, meaning that licensing under the Environmental Protection Act 1986 would not be required and waste levy requirements would not be triggered where relevant. ...More
The Government of Western Australia has released the Managing water in the Fitzroy River Catchment: Discussion paper for stakeholder consultation and is seeking feedback on the options and approaches being considered to protect the Fitzroy River and manage the use of water to support sustainable economic development in the Fitzroy River Catchment.
The State Government is working collaboratively to deliver a suite of election commitments to:
create the Fitzroy River National...More
The Department of Water and Environmental Regulation is responsible for managing the availability and quality of water. Developing water allocation plans is one of the ways we manage the state’s water resources.
We are seeking feedback on the Derby groundwater allocation plan .
The plan outlines how much water can be taken from groundwater resources in the Derby region and what local policies and conditions will be applied to water licences issued under the...More
The Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (the department) is developing new guidance to provide external stakeholders with further information on how the department carries out its regulatory functions under Part V Division 2 of the Environmental Protection Act 1986 (EP Act).
We are currently seeking feedback on the draft Policy: Applications for amendments to clearing permits.
The draft policy provides guidance on matters that the department considers when making a...More
The Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (the department) is seeking public comment on the Draft guideline: Assessment of environmental noise emissions .
This guideline is part of a series of technical documents aimed at providing applicants guidance on the department's requirements for the assessment of emissions under Part V of the Environmental Protection Act 1986 (EP Act).
The guideline sets out the department's information requirements for the analysis of noise...More
The Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (the department) released the draft Guideline: Native vegetation referrals on 30 June 2021 for public consultation for one (1) month. The consultation period ended on 30 July 2021.
This guideline was developed to inform stakeholders about the new clearing referrals process. Prospective applicants will be able to refer proposed clearing with very low environmental impacts to the relevant department, for a decision on...More
The Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (the department) is seeking public comment on the draft Guideline: Dust emissions.
This guideline is part of a series of technical documents aimed at providing applicants guidance on the department's requirements for the assessment of emissions under Part V of the Environmental Protection Act 1986 (EP Act).
The guideline sets out the department's information requirements for the analysis of dust emission impact from activities...More
The Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (the department) sought feedback on the draft Environmental Protection Regulations Amendment (Publication and Confidentiality) Regulations 2021 .
The Publication and Confidentiality Regulations improve and streamline the materials that the State Government can publish and hold in confidence, provide greater transparency on the matters that can be held confidential and those matters that the community can expect to be published.
...More
Amendments to the Environmental Protection Act 1986 (EP Act) provide for a person to apply for a matter to be considered a ‘bilateral matter’. In broad terms, this is a process for a person who is potentially covered by a bilateral agreement to opt in to being dealt with under that bilateral agreement.
The Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (the department) sought feedback on the draft Environmental Protection (Bilateral Agreements) Regulations 2021 which set out...More
Public consultation on the Consultation draft: Native vegetation policy for Western Australia has closed.
For more information, or to subscribe to receive updates, visit Native vegetation policy for Western Australia .
Related documents
Draft policy
Explanatory notes
Consultation summary
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On 20 September 2021, the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation released the discussion paper Implementing cost recovery for Part IV of the Environmental Protection Act 1986 , and consultation draft of the Environmental Protection (Cost Recovery) Regulations 2021 . The paper and draft regulations outlined a draft pricing model to implement fees and charges for the environmental impact assessment (EIA) process. Fees were proposed for the referral, assessment and implementation...More
Across Perth and Mandurah, domestic garden bores collectively abstract around 90 GL (gigalitres, or billion litres) which is equivalent to 90 Optus Stadiums full of water per year, or 22 per cent of all water abstracted from our groundwater systems.
Currently, domestic garden bores are able to be used for garden watering three days a week in spring, summer and autumn. As a necessary measure to protect our groundwater resources, there is a proposal to reduce the domestic garden bore...More
The Department of Water and Environmental Regulation is seeking submissions on the Gnangara groundwater allocation plan: draft for public comment . The draft plan addresses the impact that climate change is having on Perth’s northern groundwater resources and their dependent ecosystems, including caves, wetlands and bushland.
Developed in consultation with stakeholders and based on scientific research and groundwater modelling, the 10-year plan proposes reductions to...More
On 17 December 2021, the department released the Draft guideline: Spring exemptions under Part III section 5(1)(a) of the Rights in Water and Irrigation Act 1914 for public comment .
The public consultation period closed on 31 May 2022.
We thank all respondents who provided feedback on the draft guideline. All feedback was considered in finalising the spring exemptions guideline.
A consultation summary report capturing the main feedback themes...More
The Department of Water and Environmental Regulation sought public comment on the draft Procedure for environmental offsets metric inputs .
Once finalised, the procedure will form part of the department’s policy framework. This procedure is for use with the WA environmental offsets metric ( calculator and guideline ). Additional guidance is needed to help users understand the ranges of metric inputs and their rationale.
The public...More
The Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (the department) is seeking public comment on the discussion paper, Environmental Regulation Reform: A strategic review of regulatory delivery and fees for industry regulation .
The passing of the Environmental Protection Amendment Act 2020 (EP Amendment Act) in November 2020 resulted in the most significant reform of Western Australia’s environmental legislation in 30 years. Implementation of these reforms requires the amendment of...More
On 13 June 2021 the State Government announced Western Australia’s Plan for Plastics .
The plan includes regulations to ban single-use plastic items in a two-stage approach. Stage 1 regulations came into effect on 1 January 2022.
Stage 2 regulations are now in effect and include the ban of:
produce bags
expanded plastic packaging
expanded plastic cups
coffee cups/lids
microbeads ...More
On 13 June 2021 the State Government announced Western Australia’s Plan for Plastics .
The plan includes regulations to ban single-use plastic items in a two-stage approach. Stage 1 regulations came into effect on 1 January 2022.
Stage 2 regulations are now in effect and include the ban of:
produce bags
expanded plastic packaging
expanded plastic cups
coffee cups/lids
microbeads ...More
On 13 June 2021 the State Government announced Western Australia’s Plan for Plastics .
The plan includes regulations to ban single-use plastic items in a two-stage approach. Stage 1 regulations came into effect on 1 January 2022.
Stage 2 regulations are now in effect and include the ban of:
produce bags
expanded plastic packaging
expanded plastic cups
coffee cups/lids
microbeads ...More
The Western Australian container deposit scheme (CDS), Containers for Change , started on 1 October 2020. It delivered a commitment of the WA Government to increase recycling, reduce litter, provide benefits for community groups and charities, and create employment opportunities for people living with disability, Aboriginal people and long-term unemployed people.
The Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (the department) sought feedback on the Discussion paper:...More
The State Government is committed to a ban on e-waste disposal to landfill by 2024 .
Banning e-waste from disposal to landfill supports our vision for a low-carbon Western Australia with a healthy environment and secure water resources for future generations. The ban also supports the Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery Strategy 2030 vision for the state to become a sustainable, low-waste, circular economy in which human health and the environment are protected...More
Changes to the Environmental Protection Act 1986 (EP Act) being made by the Planning and Development Amendment Act 2020 (PD Amendment Act) will enable the making of regulations to streamline scheme assessments.
Currently, all local and regional planning schemes must be referred to the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) for a determination on whether the scheme should be assessed under Part IV of the EP Act. In many cases, new or amended planning schemes will not have any...More