Spring October 2017

Welcome to the latest edition of the EPA Connect Newsletter. It’s been a busy winter period with the EPA hosting the NSW Government’s Clean Air Summit which considered how we can all work towards improving air quality over the next 10 years. I’m also happy to report that the Container Deposit Scheme, now known as Return and Earn, is set to start from 1 December with over 500 collection points across the State. Read more

In our last edition, we told you about revised licence conditions on Clarence Colliery to improve the health of the Wollangambe River, in the world heritage listed Blue Mountains. Since then, the Land and Environment Court has convicted Clarence Colliery of two offences and imposed financial penalties totalling $1,050,000 - the single largest fine following prosecution by the EPA. Read more

The NSW Government’s highly anticipated Container Deposit Scheme, known as Return and Earn, is a step closer to starting on 1 December following announcement of the successful tenderers for the scheme co-ordinator and network operator, who will run the collection points across the state. Read more

Leading minds from across the environmental sector came together in late June for the NSW Clean Air Summit. The NSW EPA-managed event brought together over 300 representatives from across industry, community and environment groups to join government representatives and work towards improving air quality across NSW. Read more

In 2016, we asked you, our stakeholders, what you thought of the EPA’s performance. The results are now in, and overall they are encouraging. Read more

The Urunga Wetlands on the mid-north coast has undergone a remarkable transformation from wasteland to wetland, following an EPA partnership with Crown Lands, Bellingen Shire Council and the Environmental Trust. Read more

Residents of North Lake Macquarie will soon be able to dispose of lead-contaminated soil locally, thanks to a partnership between the EPA, Newcastle City and Lake Macquarie Councils. Read more

Find out how 22,000 tonnes of dust have been stopped, why pesticide accreditation is important, and information about the Community Litter Grants Program Read more

Keep NSW Beautiful is the champion for litter reduction and environmental sustainability in the state. Independent and not-for-profit, Keep NSW Beautiful’s focus is to engage communities to make NSW the least littered state in Australia and transform our littering behaviour to create a beautiful and more sustainable environment. Read more

Six months has now passed since Karen Marler stepped into the EPA’s Hunter Director role bringing with her over 20 years’ experience in the EPA. Read more

EPA prosecutions result in record penalties The EPA has a new record, with the court’s imposing over $2.4 million in penalties for prosecutions brought by the EPA in the past financial year for environmental crimes. Read more