EPA General Environmental Duty
EPA Victoria (Environment Protection Authority) was granted additional powers in 2021 to minimise the risk of harm to public health and the environment from pollution and waste. These powers come from the EPA Regulations 2021 and the Environment Protection Act 2017.
Through the Environment Protection Act, facility operators now have a General Environmental Duty (GED), which means that activities that pose a risk to human health and the environment must be understood. Importantly, the GED has the force of Law and is criminally enforceable.
These powers were established to allow EPA Victoria to legally force sites to make corrective actions before a breach of policy occurred, in order to reduce the risk of harm to public health and the environment.
Through the Environment Protection Act, facility operators now have a General Environmental Duty (GED), which means that activities that pose a risk to human health and the environment must be understood. Importantly, the GED has the force of Law and is criminally enforceable.
These powers were established to allow EPA Victoria to legally force sites to make corrective actions before a breach of policy occurred, in order to reduce the risk of harm to public health and the environment.
General Environmental Duty & Site Noise emissions
Also in 2021, EPA Victoria released Publication 1826.4 – Noise limit and assessment protocol for the control of noise from commercial, industrial and trade premises and entertainment venues (Noise Protocol). The Noise Protocol supersedes the following policies:
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EPA Victoria requires sites to undertake environmental noise assessments to determine compliance of off-site noise emissions, usually as a result of planning, EPA works approvals, upgrades or complaints.
All environmental noise assessments conducted within Victoria are to be assessed in accordance with the Noise Protocol. The Noise Protocol is used in conjunction with Part 5.3 of the EPA Regulations 2021 and the Environment Protection Act 2017 to assess noise emissions from sites.
All environmental noise assessments conducted within Victoria are to be assessed in accordance with the Noise Protocol. The Noise Protocol is used in conjunction with Part 5.3 of the EPA Regulations 2021 and the Environment Protection Act 2017 to assess noise emissions from sites.
why is the introduction of the general environmental duty important
With the introduction of the GED by EPA Victoria, sites are required to minimise their off-site impacts to prevent harm to public health or the environment. With the GED having the force of Law, EPA Victoria can legally force sites to reduce noise further, even if their noise emissions are compliant with Noise Protocol noise limits, if it is considered reasonable and practicable to eliminate or minimise those risks.
If you would like to discuss the GED further with one of our consultants or book in a GED environmental noise assessment, click on the links below to call us or email us
Victoria: Why you need Auralisation
With the introduction of the General Environmental Duty by EPA Victoria, sites are required to minimise their off-site impacts and can be legally required to reduce noise further, even if their noise emissions are compliant with Noise Protocol noise limits, if it is shown to be reasonable and practicable to do so.
Auralisation provides the ability to hear audio of what the predicted noise would be at any off-site location, not just the noise level in decibels. Further it can provide the ability to hear what the predicted noise would be inside dwellings. By incorporating auralisation into noise modelling projects, Acoustic Compliance Australia can provide clarity on if noise emissions are reasonable to manage risk for environmental noise impacts.
Auralisation provides the ability to hear audio of what the predicted noise would be at any off-site location, not just the noise level in decibels. Further it can provide the ability to hear what the predicted noise would be inside dwellings. By incorporating auralisation into noise modelling projects, Acoustic Compliance Australia can provide clarity on if noise emissions are reasonable to manage risk for environmental noise impacts.
EPA VIC General Environmental Duty
EPA Victoria (Environment Protection Authority) was granted additional powers in 2021 to minimise the risk of harm to public health and the environment from pollution and waste. These powers come from the EPA Regulations 2021 and the Environment Protection Act 2017.
Through the Environment Protection Act, facility operators now have a General Environmental Duty (GED), which means that activities that pose a risk to human health and the environment must be understood. Importantly, the GED has the force of Law and is criminally enforceable.
These powers were established to allow EPA Victoria to legally force sites to make corrective actions before a breach of policy occurred in order to reduce the risk of harm to public health and the environment.
Through the Environment Protection Act, facility operators now have a General Environmental Duty (GED), which means that activities that pose a risk to human health and the environment must be understood. Importantly, the GED has the force of Law and is criminally enforceable.
These powers were established to allow EPA Victoria to legally force sites to make corrective actions before a breach of policy occurred in order to reduce the risk of harm to public health and the environment.
GED & Site Noise emissions
Also in 2021, EPA Victoria released Publication 1826.4 – Noise limit and assessment protocol for the control of noise from commercial, industrial and trade premises and entertainment venues (Noise Protocol). The Noise Protocol supersedes the following policies:
- State Environmental Protection Policy No. N-1 (SEPP N-1)
- State Environmental Protection Policy No. N-2 (SEPP N-2)
- EPA Publication 1411 - Noise from Industry in Regional Victoria (NIRV)
EPA Victoria requires sites to undertake environmental noise assessments to determine compliance of off-site noise emissions, usually as a result of planning, EPA works approvals, upgrades or complaints.
All environmental noise assessments conducted within Victoria are to be assessed in accordance with the Noise Protocol. The Noise Protocol is used in conjunction with Part 5.3 of the EPA Regulations 2021 and the Environment Protection Act 2017 to assess noise emissions from sites.
All environmental noise assessments conducted within Victoria are to be assessed in accordance with the Noise Protocol. The Noise Protocol is used in conjunction with Part 5.3 of the EPA Regulations 2021 and the Environment Protection Act 2017 to assess noise emissions from sites.
why is the introduction of the GED important
With the introduction of the GED by EPA Victoria, sites are required to minimise their off-site impacts to prevent harm to public health or the environment. With the GED having the force of Law, EPA Victoria can legally force sites to reduce noise further, even if their noise emissions are compliant with Noise Protocol noise limits, if it is considered reasonable and practicable to eliminate or minimise those risks.
If you would like to discuss the GED further with one of our consultants or book in a GED assessment, click on the links below to call us or email us
Why you need Auralisation
Due to the General Environmental Duty, sites are required to minimise their off-site impacts if it is shown to be reasonable and practicable to do so. Further sites can be legally forced to reduce noise further, even if their noise emissions are compliant with Noise Protocol noise limits.
Auralisation provides the ability to hear audio of what the predicted noise would be at any off-site location, not just the noise level in decibels. Further it can provide the ability to hear what the predicted noise would be inside dwellings. By incorporating auralisation into noise modelling projects, Acoustic Compliance Australia can provide clarity on if noise emissions are reasonable to manage risk for environmental noise impacts.
Auralisation provides the ability to hear audio of what the predicted noise would be at any off-site location, not just the noise level in decibels. Further it can provide the ability to hear what the predicted noise would be inside dwellings. By incorporating auralisation into noise modelling projects, Acoustic Compliance Australia can provide clarity on if noise emissions are reasonable to manage risk for environmental noise impacts.
