In the last two weeks, two new and long awaited guidance documents have been released in relation to the assessment and management of per- and poly- fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS): A 5-part technical report on “Assessment, management and remediation for PFOS and PFOA” prepared by the Cooperative Research Centre for Contamination and Remediation of the Environment…
The NSW Department of Planning and Environment is proposing changes to the State Environmental Planning Policy 2007 and the introduction of a new State Environmental Planning Policy 2017.
Two local councils in Sydney are taking steps to make affordable housing a reality for low income groups.
The NSW Land and Environment Court (LEC) has handed down a recent decision determining the quantum of costs arising from clean-up actions undertaken by Kempsey Shire Council (Council). Although this case was not about the question of liability, which was determined before the LEC in 2015, it provides a useful narrative of the clean-up and compliance cost recovery…
NSW looks set to become the third State or Territory, after South Australia and the Northern Territory, to implement a container deposit scheme (CDS), with the Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery Amendment (Container Deposit Scheme) Act 2016 (CDS Act) assented to on 25 October 2016. This follows a commitment by the Premier of NSW on…
The NSW Government has responded to growing concern that the development industry is ‘being held to ransom’ by some Councils when negotiating VPAs by releasing a revised Practice Note and draft Direction and circular regarding the use of Voluntary Planning Agreements (VPAs) under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (EP&A Act). On 4 November…
Improved transparency, certainty and fairness is the focus in the Land Acquisition (Just Terms Compensation) Amendment Act 2016 (Amending Act), which has received assent from the Governor and will commence on a day or days to be appointed by proclamation. The Amending Act introduces changes to the Land Acquisition (Just Terms Compensation) Act 1991 (Act)…
