Consultation archive - policies, guidelines and legislative amendments

This page shows draft versions of policies and guidelines that were available for public comment, but have now either been finalised or are in the process of being finalised. The list is sorted by title.

The public exhibition period has closed for each of these documents - please do not send us any submissions on them. The documents are provided for research purposes only.

Consultation archive - policies, guidelines and legislative amendments
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Title	Type of document	Closing date for public comment	Notes
Accreditation scheme for individuals involved threatened species and biodiversity survey and assessment	Policy/guideline	30/06/2006	Available for public comment until 30 June 2006.
Approved methods for the sampling and analysis of water pollutants in NSW	Policy/guideline	30/01/2004	Submission closing date 30 January 2004
Assessment and management of groundwater contamination - draft guidelines	Policy/guideline	1/04/2005	These draft guidelines lay down principles to guide the assessment of contaminated groundwater in NSW. Public submissions are invited until 1 April 2005.
Assessment and Management of Odour from Stationary Sources in NSW		30/04/2001	Submission closing date 30 April 2001
Biodiversity certification and banking in coastal and growth areas	Policy/guideline	30/09/2005	This paper explains how the new concepts of 'biodiversity certification' and 'biodiversity banking' will operate in areas where high population growth and economic development are transforming the landscape and causing irreversible biodiversity loss. The public consultation period has been extended to 30 September 2005.
Catchment Management Authorities (Hunter Central Rivers) Regulation 2010	Policy/guideline	09/06/2010	Regulatory Impact Statement - for public comment until 9 June 2010
Clean Cars for NSW	Policy/guideline	30/06/2003	Submission closing date 30 June 2003
Consultation Paper: Extended Producer Responsibility Priority Statement	Policy/guideline	30/04/2003	Submission closing date 30 April 2003
Development of industry guidance notes for local council officers to manage air quality	Policy/guideline	05/12/2003	Submission closing date 5 December 2003
Development of an air emissions inventory for the greater metropolitan region	Policy/guideline	13/02/2004	Submission closing date 13 February 2004
Draft BioBanking Assessment Methodology	Policy/guideline		This draft set of rules will be used to assess the biodiversity values that NSW's new BioBanking Scheme is designed to protect.
Draft Biodiversity Certification Assessment Methodology	Policy/guideline	30/07/2010	on public exhibition until 30 July 2010
Draft Code of Practice for Archaeological Investigation in NSW	Policy/guideline	28/07/2010	exhibition until 28 July 2010
Draft code of practice for injured, sick and orphaned protected fauna	Policy/guideline	31/03/2010	for public comment until 31 March 2010.
Draft code of practice for reptile keepers	Policy/guideline
Draft Compliance Assurance Strategy	Policy/guideline		This is a proposed strategy to ensure that the NSW BioBanking Scheme is implemented lawfully, equitably and transparently and that biodiversity values are conserved and improved.
Draft Contaminated Land Management Regulation 2008	Policy/guideline		The Contaminated Land Management Regulation 1998 is due for automatic repeal on 1 September 2008. It is proposed that a new Regulation be made under the Contaminated Land Management Act 1997 (CLM Act) by 1 September 2008.
Draft Ecological Harvesting Plan Guideline for Endangered Ecological Communities	Policy/guideline	16/08/2010	Available for public comment until 16 August 2010
Draft Environmental Guidelines: Composting and Related Organics Processing Facilities		30/08/2002	Submission closing date 30 August 2002
Draft general information for commercial fishing and aquaculture vehicle access permits	Policy/guideline		This permit application package is applicable to commercial fishing or aquaculture permit holders licensed under the Fisheries Management Act 1994
Draft Illawarra Escarpment State Conservation Area - draft plan of management	management plan	31/10/2011	Draft plan of management for Illawarra Escarpment State Conservation Area
Draft Guidelines for the Assessment of Former Gasworks Sites	Policy/guideline	28/03/2003	Submission closing date 28 March 2003
Draft Lachlan River (Jemalong Gap to Condobolin) floodplain management plan	Statutory document	13/05/2011	The draft plan defines requirements for managing floodwaters within the floodplain. Once adopted under Part 8 of the Water Act, the plan will be used by the NSW Office of Water to regulate flood control works on the floodplain.
Draft Lower Hunter Regional Conservation Plan	Policy/guideline	17/11/2006	This draft plan sets out a 25-year program to direct and drive conservation efforts in the Lower Hunter Valley. It is a partner document to the NSW Government's Lower Hunter Strategy, which sets out the full range of government planning priorities and identifies proposed areas for growth. On public exhibition to 17 November 2006.
Draft Maclean Flying-fox Management Strategy	Policy/guideline	15/09/2010	Closing date for submissions is 15 September 2010
Draft Mid North Coast Regional Conservation Plan	Policy/guideline	08/04/2011	Available for public comment until 08 April 2011
Draft Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Sydney Water Corporation and Environment Protection Authority		16/09/2002	Submissions close: 16 September 2002
Draft Murrumbidgee (Hay to Maude) floodplain management plan	Statutory document	23/09/2011	The draft plan defines requirements for managing floodwaters within the floodplain. Once adopted under Part 8 of the Water Act, the plan will be used by the NSW Office of Water to regulate flood control works on the floodplain.
Draft New South Wales Biodiversity Strategy 2010-2015	Policy/guideline	11/02/2011	The closing date for submissions is 11 February 2011
Draft NSW Construction Noise Guideline	Policy/guideline		The NSW Department of Environment and Climate Change (DECC) is seeking community comment on a revised Construction Noise Guideline. It is intended that this will replace the Noise Control Guideline: Construction Site Noise published by the State Pollution Control Commission in 1985. The objective of the proposed guideline is to provide clear and consistent guidance on how to assess. Comments must be received by 19 September 2008.
Draft NSW Environmental Education Plan 2006-09	Policy/guideline	14/11/2005	Available for public comment until 14 November 2005.
Draft Noise Guide for Local Government	Policy/guideline	31/03/2003	Submission closing date 31 March 2003
Draft Pesticides Regulation 2009	Policy/guideline		The proposed Regulation is now available for written comment until Friday 17 April 2009. It is proposed that the draft Regulation will replace the Pesticides Regulation 1995.
Draft Radiation Control Amendment (Sun-tanning Units) Regulation 2008	Policy/guideline		Submissions close 6 February 2009
Draft Radiation Guideline: Radiation Safety Officers and Radiation Safety Committees	Policy/guideline	31/05/2002	Submission closing date 31 May 2002
Draft report NSW coal mining benchmarking study - International best practice measures to prevent and/or minimise emissions of particulate matter from coal mining	Policy/guideline	07/02/2011	Available for comment until Monday 7 February 2011
Draft Road Noise Policy	Policy/guideline	06/08/2010	On exhibition until Friday 6 August 2010
Draft sea level rise policy statement	Policy/guideline		Submissions must be received by 5 pm, Friday 11 December 2009
Draft Sustainable Management Plan For the Commercial Harvest, Salvage and Propagation of Protected Whole Plants 2012–2015	Draft plan of management	02/03/2012	Public exhibition for this document 23 January 2012 to 2 March 2012. Submissions due 2 March 2012.
Draft Sydney Region Pest Management Strategy 2008-2011	Policy/guideline		Comments are currently being sought on the draft Pest Management Strategy for the Sydney Region of the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS). The strategy identifies the negative impacts of pest animals and weeds to biodiversity, cultural heritage, amenity and other park values and provides NPWS with a strategic approach to pest management. The draft strategy is on exhibition from 13 October 2008 - 21 November 2008.
Draft Warrah Creek floodplain management plan	Statutory document	15/04/2011	The draft plan defines requirements for managing floodwaters within the floodplain. Once adopted under Part 8 of the Water Act, the plan will be used by the NSW Office of Water to regulate flood control works on the floodplain.
Dubay Jarjum Nurahm Aboriginal Area - draft plan of management	draft plan of management		draft plan of management for Dubay Jarjum Nurahm Aboriginal Area
Environmentally Hazardous Chemicals Act	Legislative amendment		The EHC Act allows DECC to regulate activities of chemicals or groups of chemicals of environmental concern. These requirements are set out in chemical control orders and may require a licence or prohibit certain activities. The activities may include storing, transporting or treating chemicals and/or their wastes.
EPA Disability Action Plan 2002-05		28/02/2003	Submission closing date 28 February 2003
Extended Producer Responsibility Priority Statement 2004	Policy/guideline	28/05/2004	The Priority Statement identifies 16 wastes of concern suitable for management by EPR schemes in NSW, and nine wastes which will receive priority focus in 2004. EPR schemes aim to get producers to take responsibility for the waste and other environmental impacts of their products throughout their life cycle.
Extended Producer Responsibility Priority Statement 2005-06	Policy/guideline	30/06/2006
Fox Threat Abatement Plan	Policy/guideline	23/07/2010	On exhibition until 23 July 2010
Green offsets for sustainable development - concept paper	Policy/guideline	30/06/2002	Submission closing date 30 June 2002
Guide to the Statutory Requirements for Emergency Coastal Protection Works: Consultation Draft	Policy/guideline	01/10/2010	On exhibition until 1 October 2010
High Temperature Solar Thermal Technology Roadmap	Policy/guideline	20/11/2007	The NSW and Victorian governments are jointly developing a national high temperature solar thermal technology roadmap. Feedback is sought from stakeholders on a range of questions outlined in a discussion paper.
Interim Community Consultation Requirements for Applicants	Policy/guideline		DECC respects and acknowledges the role of Aboriginal people in the management and protection of their cultural heritage. Applicants for an AHIP are required to consult with members and representatives of Aboriginal communities that might be affected by the activity. To facilitate this, DECC developed Interim Community Consultation Requirements for Applicants to clarify consultation requirements. DECC is committed to a comprehensive review of these interim requirements before they are finalised. A Discussion Paper has been developed to identify the key issues raised with DECC, and to pose questions for consideration.
Kosciuszko National Park - proposed naming of roads in resort areas	Policy/guideline		On public exhibition until 20 February 2009
Land protection proposal: Regulating the use of industrially sourced wastes as fertilisers	Policy/guideline	25/06/2004	This draft document proposes changes to the regulation of wastes and fertilisers, to clearly distinguish the beneficial use of wastes from practices which may be harmful. The proposed controls will prohibit the use of certain industrial wastes in agriculture, horticulture, silviculture and environmental rehabilitation.
Litter Survey Program	Policy/guideline	05/09/2003	Submissions close 5 September 2003
Low emission small engines - measures to encourage the supply and uptake of cleaner small engines (two and four stroke cycle) in NSW	Policy/guideline	29/09/2003	Closing date 29 September 2003
Naming of roads - ski resort villages, Kosciuszko National Park	Policy/guideline	11/05/2007	DEC proposes to name the roads in the ski resort villages of Perisher Valley, Smiggin Holes and Guthega.
NPWS Cycling Policy Review and Sustainable Mountain Biking Strategy: Discussion Paper	Policy/guideline	19/10/2010	On exhibition until 19 October 2010
Native Vegetation Act Discussion Paper
Notification of pesticide use	Policy/guideline	17 May 2004
NSW Radiation Protection Series No. 6 - Code of Practice and Recommended Best Practice for Ionising Radiation Apparatus used in Diagnostic Imaging	Policy/guideline	24/04/2003	Submission closing date 24 April 2003
Pesticides Amendment (Records) Regulation 2000		30/03/2001	Submission closing date 30 March 2001
POEO Act and CLM Act - review	Policy/guideline	15/08/2003	Submissions close 15 August 2003
Pollution Control Regulation 1998
Preparation of a Draft Guideline on Managing Construction Noise	Policy/guideline	16 February 2004	Submission closing date 16 February 2004
Preferred resource recovery practices by local councils	Policy/guideline	29/07/2005	Available for public comment until 29 July 2005.
Proposal: Auctioning Hunter River Salinity Trading Scheme Credits	Policy/guideline	19/12/2003	Submission closing date 19 December 2003
Proposal for amendments to the NSW Site Auditor Scheme	Policy/guideline	09/08/2002	The closing date for submissions is 9 August 2002
Proposed Coastal Protection Regulation 2011	Policy/guideline	23/02/2011	Available for public consultation until Wednesday 23 February 2011
Proposed Pesticides Amendment (User Training) Regulation		01/03/2002	Submission closing date 1 March 2002
Proposed Protection of the Environment Operations (Clean Air) Regulation 2010	Policy/guideline	05/07/2010	On exhibition until 5 July 2010
Proposed Protection of the Environment Operations (Clean Air - Domestic Solid Fuel Heaters) Regulation 2002	Policy/guideline	07/08/2002	Submission closing date 7 August 2002
Proposed Protection of the Environment Operations (Clean Air - Motor Vehicles and Motor Vehicle Fuels) Regulation 2002	Policy/guideline	02/08/2002	Submission closing date 2 August 2002
Proposed amendments to the BioBanking Assessment Methodology	Policy/guideline	19/11/2010	On exhibition until 19 November 2010
Proposed Marine Water Quality Objectives for NSW Coastal Waters		14/02/2003	The closing date for submissions is 14 February 2003
Proposed Protection of the Environment Operations (General) Regulation 2008	Policy/guideline		The draft POEO (General) Regulation 2008 aims to ensure that the provisions of the POEO Act can be implemented in an efficient and effective manner, recover the costs of administering the POEO Act and the Regulation as part of applying the polluter-pays principle, and provide additional incentive for the reduction of emissions of pollutants for activities under Schedule 1 of the POEO Act. This includes encouraging licensees subject to Load Based Licensing (LBL) to improve their environmental performance beyond what is required by the complementary command and control approaches.
Proposed solutions to streamline assessment process for clearing native vegetation	Legislative amendment	04/02/2011	On public exhibition until Friday 4 February 2011
Protection of the Environment Operations (General) Regulation 1998		12/06/1998	Submission closing date 12 June 1998
Protection of the Environment Operations (Hunter River Salinity Trading Scheme) Regulation 2001		04/05/2001	Submission closing date 4 May 2001
Protection of the Environment Operations Amendment (Scheduled Activities and Waste) Regulation 2007	Policy/guideline	29/10/2007	The POEO Amendment Regulation proposes amendments to Schedule 1 of the Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997, the Protection of the Environment Operations (Waste) Regulation 2005 and Schedule 1 of the Protection of the Environment Operations (General) Regulation 1998. These changes aim to simplify and clarify current regulatory requirements in order to achieve the best environmental outcomes.
Protection of the Environment Operations Amendment Bill 2005 - consultation draft	Legislative amendment	22/07/2005	Available for public comment until 22 July 2005.
Protection of the Environment Operations (Control of Burning) Regulation 2000		07/07/2000	Submission closing date 7 July 2000
Protection of the Environment Operations (Noise Control) Regulation 2000		03/07/2000	Submission closing date 3 July 2000
Rail infrastruction noise guideline - Draft for consultation	Policy/guideline (draft)	30/03/2012	Submission closing date 3 March 2012
Regulatory Impact Statement for the proposed Threatened Species Conservation Regulation 2010	Policy/guideline	02/07/2010	The existing Regulation is due for repeal in 2010. The proposed Regulation is available for public comment until 2 July 2010.
Regulatory Impact Statement - Proposed Marine Parks Regulation 2009	Policy/guideline		This document assesses whether the proposed new Regulation will provide a net benefit to the community compared with a number of alternative options. The community is invited to provide written comment on the analysis and the replacement Regulation until Friday 12 June.
Regulatory Impact Statement - Proposed Protection of the Environment Operations (Underground Petroleum Storage Systems) Regulation 2005	Legislative amendment	17/02/2006	Available for public comment until 17 February 2006.
Regulatory Impact Statement: Proposed National Parks and Wildlife Regulation 2009	Policy/guideline		The National Parks and Wildlife Regulation 2002 is due for automatic repeal on 1 September 2009. The proposed Regulation is available for comment until 27 March 2009.
Regulatory Impact Statement: Proposed Radiation Control Regulation 2003	Policy/guideline	30/04/2003	The closing date for submissions is 30 April 2003
Regulatory Impact Statement: Proposed Protection of the Environment (Noise Control) Regulation 2007	Policy/guideline	14/07/2007	Under the Subordinate Legislation Act 1989, the existing Protection of the Environment (Noise Control) Regulation 2000 is scheduled for automatic repeal on 1 September 2007. As required under this Act, DECC has prepared a Regulatory Impact Statement to assess the economic, social and environmental costs and benefits associated with the revised regulation and consider the alternatives. The Regulatory Impact Statement demonstrates the revised Regulation will provide the greatest net benefits to the community compared with possible alternatives.
Regulatory Impact Statement: Protection of the Environment Operations (Waste) Regulation 2005	Policy/guideline	7/10/2005	This new Regulation proposes a new system for tracking waste, and changes some requirements relating to the waste levy contribution, waste storage and transport. Available for public comment until 7 October 2005.
Review of policy for management techniques, under clause 28 of Native Vegetation Regulation 2005	Policy/guideline
Review of NSW Forest Agreements and Integrated Forestry Operations Approvals	Policy/guideline	17/11/2010	The NSW Government is undertaking a review of the NSW Forest Agreements and integrated forestry operations approvals (IFOAs) for the Upper North East, Lower North East, Eden, and Southern regions. You are invited to view the report on the review, and if you have any comments, to submit these to DECCW no later than 17 November 2010.
Review of the Environmentally Hazardous Chemicals Act	Policy/guideline	22/09/2003	Submissions close 22 September 2003
Review of the Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997		21/02/2003	Submission closing date 21 February 2003
Review of the Lord Howe Island Act 1953	Legislative amendment		for public consultation until Wednesday 10 March 2010
Review of the Lord Howe Island Act 1953	Legislative amendment		The Department of Environment and Climate Change has commenced the statutory review of the Lord Howe Island Act 1953 (LHI Act). The review is being undertaken on behalf of the Minister for Climate Change and the Environment to check that its objectives are still valid, and to ensure they are drafted to effectively deliver on those objectives.
Review of the Memorandum of Understanding between Sydney Water Corporation and the Office of Environment and Heritage	Memorandum of Understanding	30/09/2011	Submissions closed 30th September 2011
Review of the NSW Radiation Control Act	Legislative amendment		A discussion paper on DECC's review of this legislation is now available for comment until 27 February 2009.
Review of the Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery Act 2001	Policy/guideline	22/06/2007	Under section 32 of the Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery Act 2001 (WARR Act), the Minister must review the Act within 12 months after the end of five years from the date of assent of the Act and table a report on the outcome of the review in each House of Parliament by the end of the 12-month period.
Review of the Waste Minimisation and Management Act 1995		22/12/2000	Submission closing date 22 December 2000
Shannon Creek Draft Conservation Agreement	Policy/guideline		A draft Conservation Agreement over land at Shannon Creek, near Coutts Crossing, managed by North Coast Water, a business unit of the Clarence Valley Council, has been prepared, in partnership with DECC. The Conservation Agreement protects significant natural heritage conservation values in perpetuity.
Statutory review of the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995	Policy/guideline	17/11/2010	Closing date for submissions is 17 November 2010
Strategic assessment of Sydney's growth centres	Policy/guideline		The Department of Planning is undertaking a Strategic Assessment of the North West and South West Growth Centres under the Commonwealth nvironment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act).
Tallaganda National Park and State Conservation Area - draft plan of management	draft plan of management		draft plan of management for Tallaganda National Park and State Conservation Area
Threatened Biodiversity Survey and Assessment: Guidelines for Developments and Activities - working draft (PDF - 487KB)	Policy/guideline		As the diversity of species and their habitats may be adversely affected by development, it is important that informed decisions regarding the impact of development can be made.
Threatened biodiversity survey draft guidelines	Policy/guideline	30/04/2005	Download these draft guidelines, which explain the process involved in undertaking a threatened species assessment, set out the responsibilities of the people involved, and provide some general survey standards for flora and fauna surveys. The guidelines were on public exhibition to 30 April 2005.
Towards an Aboriginal land management framework	Policy/guideline		The NSW Government is currently working with Aboriginal communities to reach a common understanding about how to strengthen their connections to Country. Find out how to have your say.
Unhealthy Building Land Act 1990 - proposed repeal		28/09/2001	Submission closing date 28 September 2001
Vapour recovery at service stations	Policy/guideline		Stage 2 vapour recovery or 'VR2' is being phased in at petrol stations in metropolitan NSW to reduce the escape of emissions during refuelling and improve the quality of our air. Find out more and how to comment on the proposal.
Vapour Recovery at Service Stations in the NSW Greater Metropolitan Region - discussion paper	Policy/guideline	14/09/2007	The Department of Environment and Climate Change NSW has released a discussion paper that outlines the results of its vapour recovery evaluation at the bowser and proposes the next steps in vapour recovery at service stations in the Sydney, Newcastle, Wollongong and Central Coast regions.
Willi Willi National Park draft plan of management	draft plan of management		draft plan of management for Willi Willi National Park
Wood preservation industry - Part A, Part B	Policy/guideline	31/07/2003	Submission closing date 31 July 2003
Working Paper, Environmental Education in NSW: Towards a three-year plan	Policy/guideline	28/09/2001	Submission closing date 28 September 2001