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Public registers

Public registers maintained by the Environment Protection Authority and the Office of Environment and Heritage

The Environment Protection Authority (EPA) and the Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH), Department of Premier and Cabinet are required to maintain a number of public registers under certain pieces of legislation which are listed below.

The Public Register under the Protection of the Environment Operations Act (1997) is one of the most important registers.

Public Register under the Protection of the Environment Operations Act ( 1997) (POEO Act)

About the POEO Public Register

The public register under section 308 of the POEO Act is an online searchable database and contains:

  • environment protection licences
  • applications for new licences and to transfer or vary existing licences
  • environment protection and noise control notices
  • convictions in prosecutions under the POEO Act
  • the results of civil proceedings
  • licence review information. Submissions regarding licence review can be made at any time
  • exemptions from the provisions of the POEO Act or regulations
  • approvals granted under clause 9 of the POEO (Control of Burning) Regulation
  • approvals granted under clause 7A of the POEO (Clean Air) Regulation.

As a result of the Protection of the Environment Legislation Amendment Act 2011 (Amendment Act), the public register will be expanded to include details of the following from 31 March 2012:

  • each mandatory environmental audit required to be undertaken under a licence
  • each pollution study required by a condition of a licence
  • each pollution reduction program required by a condition of a licence
  • each penalty notice issued by the EPA.

Public Register under the National Parks and Wildlife Act

The Public Register under the National Parks and Wildlife Act (NPW Act) has been established to provide the public with information related to Aboriginal places and other regulatory functions under the NPW Act and the Threatened Species Conservation Act (TSC Act). This register supports OEH's broad principle of ensuring that where possible, the department's decisions are publicly available and transparent. The register contains details of:

Remediation directions

This table is updated by OEH on a regular basis. If you require further information contact the relevant OEH office. The table is sorted by the date on which the decision was made.

Type of matter / activity / location Date published Local govt area (OEH office)

The remediation direction was issued to Kosciuszko Thredbo Pty Ltd to rectify damaged vegetation and soil exposed to erosion from clearing about 300m2 for mountain bike tracks without development consent or NPWS approval at Thredbo resort at Kosciuszko National Park.

View the remediation direction (Thredboremediation.pdf 4mb)

 

26 November 2012

 

Snowy River Shire

 

Aboriginal Heritage Information Management System (AHIMS)

The AHIMS is maintained by OEH and makes cultural heritage information available to members of the public upon request, usually to identify the location of sensitive and potentially culturally significant sites relating to development applications. This information helps members of the public avoid an offence under section 86 of the National Parks and Wildlife Act. OEH maintains the right to refuse a request for information.

OEH made an information management commitment to Aboriginal communities to honour the trust placed in OEH by Aboriginal people in sharing information about their heritage places and landscapes and respect the intellectual property rights of Aboriginal people.

For more information, contact the AHIMS Registrar, Culture and Heritage Division, Hurstville on (02) 9585 6444.

BioBanking public registers

BioBanking is a market-based scheme that provides a transparent, consistent and scientifically robust framework for the assessment of biodiversity values and for the long-term management of biodiversity offsets.

BioBanking enables 'biodiversity credits' to be generated by landowners who commit to enhance and protect biodiversity values on their land through a biobanking agreement. These credits can then be sold, generating funds for the management of the site. Developers can buy these credits and use them to counterbalance (offset) the impacts on biodiversity values that will occur as a result of development, by obtaining a biobanking statement, or through other means.

The credits can also be purchased by those seeking to secure conservation outcomes, including philanthropic organisations and government.

The BioBanking public registers have been developed to allow the scheme to operate effectively and to provide the public with the confidence that potential impacts on biodiversity and threatened species are being appropriately offset. The registers are established under section 127ZZ of the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 and comply with the Privacy and Personal Information Act 1998 for personal information. The BioBanking public register covers:

  • Biobanking agreements
  • Biobank site expressions of interest (EOI)
  • Biobanking statements
  • Biodiversity credits
  • Biodiversity credit transaction

Conservation Agreements Register

Register of conservation agreements
A conservation agreement is an agreement between landholders and the Minister for the Environment. The agreement provides permanent protection for the special features of the land and is voluntary.

The area under the agreement is registered on the title of the land ensuring that if the land is sold, the agreement and management requirements remain in place.

The register is open for public inspection during business hours. For further information:
Email: conservation.partners@environment.nsw.gov.au

Contaminated Land Public Record

The contaminated land public record is an online searchable database of:

Critical Threatened Species Habitat Register

National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) is required to identify critical habitat under section 55 of the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995.

Critical habitats are areas of land that are crucial to the survival of particular threatened species, populations and ecological communities.

The online Critical Threatened Species Habitat Register shows all recommended and declared critical habitat in NSW.

Dangerous Goods Register

The Dangerous Goods Register is maintained by the EPA in accordance with the Road and Rail Transport (Dangerous Goods) Act 1997 and Regulations made under that Act:

It includes information on determinations, exemptions and approvals, and includes a link to driver and vehicle licences on the NSW Government Licensing System website.

Easements, Leases and Rights of Way Register

The NPWS keeps an online register of information on every lease, easement or right of way granted on national parks and reserves under the National Parks and Wildlife Act.

Historic Heritage Information Management System (HHIMS)

The HHIMS maintained by OEH contains information about recorded historic places on sites OEH manages. HHIMS holds details on the type and location of historic places, collections of heritage items and individual buildings, reports and other archival material. Access to HHIMS is available to researchers and interested members of the public.

For more information, contact the HHIMS Registrar, Culture and Heritage Division, Hurstville on (02) 9585 6444.

Hunter River Salinity Trading Scheme

The Hunter River Salinity Trading Scheme is a licensing scheme for discharges of saline water in the Hunter River catchment above Singleton, from mines and power stations.

This site provides the credit exchange and register facility for the scheme members as well as general online access to the credit register and other information on the trading scheme.

Interim Protection Orders Register

Interim protection orders (issued under section 91I of the National Parks and Wildlife Act) which have been placed on land that has natural, cultural or scientific significance are published in the NSW Government Gazette.

Licences of Activities that affect the Threatened Species Register 

The register of licences of activities that affect threatened species records licences which may be required under section 91 of the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 if an action is likely to result in:

  • harm to, or picking of, a threatened species, population or ecological community
  • damage to critical habitat, or
  • damage to a habitat of a threatened species, population or ecological community.

View the section 91 public register  to see scanned copies of all applications, licences and certificates. A hard copy of this register is also available in OEH's Sydney CBD library.

Native Vegetation Public Register

The following information about property vegetation plans (PVPs) and development consents approved under the Native Vegetation Act 2003 is contained in the native vegetation public register:

  • information relating to the approval of broadscale clearing of native vegetation
  • information specifying a date for the definition of regrowth
  • information about PVPs and development consents that approve broadscale clearing where CMA discretion has been exercised
  • information on clearing of native vegetation for essential local government infrastructure
  • information on approved increases to infrastructure RAMA buffer distances
  • information relating to the approval of Private Native Forestry PVPs.

Wilderness Protection Agreements Register

The Register of wilderness protection agreements includes land tenure information (required by section 14 of the Wilderness Act 1987.

The register is open for public inspection during business hours. For further information:
Email: conservation.partners@environment.nsw.gov.au

Public register of filming approvals

This register provides basic details about NPWS filming approvals since 16 July 2004. For more information about a particular filming approval, contact local NPWS staff - click on the relevant park or reserve for contact details.


Page last updated: 18 January 2013