The Environmental Protection Authority would be granted greater powers to release monitoring data to the public and third-parties under a raft of proposed changes to the state's environmental laws.
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Public and stakeholder consultation on the draft Environmental Legislation (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill was opened on Friday.
Environment Minister Peter Gutwein said the bill would contain a "range of proposed improvements" for the state's laws.
The announcement follows a 2018 state election campaign pledge by the Liberal government to "tidy up" the state's regulatory scheme.
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Under the changes, the EPA director would be able to release monitoring data without requiring the permission of the body which provided it - an ability the bill's explanatory paper notes is held by regulators in many other jurisdictions.
Also featured in the draft bill are changes to level two activities regulated by the EPA - including a loosening of restrictions on wastewater treatment plant sludge disposal and waste depot operations - and the "necessary" addition of aquaculture feed works.
New penalties would also be created for conducting level two activities without authorisation. These exist under planning laws but are considered "inadequate" relative to the nature of the activities carried out at that level.
And to help prevent environmental harm in emergency situations, authorised officers would be allowed to enter non-residential premises to either take or direct action without a warrant.
A clarification of the "too broad" definition of clean fill, or construction waste, is also proposed. As are changes to allow the EPA board to pass on assessing lower risk proposals referred to it.
Altogether the amendments span three sets of state legislation including the Environmental Management and Pollution Control Act, Living Marine Resources Management Act and Marine Farming Planning Act.
A number of drafting, legal doubt and efficiency issues within the three acts would also be altered.
The proposed amendment bill and explanatory paper are available on the Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment website.
Submissions will be accepted until October 4.
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Matt Dennien
Matt Dennien is a journalist at The Examiner, based in Launceston. Contact him via email at matt.dennien@examiner.com.au, or more securely via Signal on +61 437 672 994.
Matt Dennien is a journalist at The Examiner, based in Launceston. Contact him via email at matt.dennien@examiner.com.au, or more securely via Signal on +61 437 672 994.
