The Environment Protection Authority (EPA) regulates developments and activities that may impact on environmental quality. Under the Environmental Management and Pollution Control Act 1994, the EPA assesses new developments for their potential impact. It is primarily interested in developments involving:
- large industry operators involved in energy generation and supply
- petroleum and chemical products
- manufacturing
- waste treatment
- extractive industries
- wood processing
- food production
- mining and materials processing.
Councils refer development applications to the EPA for environmental assessment as part of the planning process.
The EPA does not deal with zoning changes or make the final decision on a development application – just its environmental impacts.
