Whats new: 2006
December 2006
Annual report
SoE 2006
November 2006
Who cares?
Who Cares about the Environment in 2006?: The 2006 survey also explores the concepts of 'environment' and 'sustainability' in more depth as well as examines the motivations, triggers and barriers people have to adopting environmentally friendly behaviour.
Beachwatch & Harbourwatch Annual Report
Beachwatch and Harbourwatch State of the Beaches Annual Report
Beachwatch Partnership Program
Beachwatch Partnership Program State of the Beaches Annual Report
Odour from stationary sources
Assessment and management of odour from stationary sources in NSW: a policy framework and detailed odour assessment procedures.
State Plan
State Plan, A New Direction for NSW, was launched by the Premier, Morris Iemma, on 14 November, 2006.
Annual greenhouse awards
NSW Premier's Greenhouse Leadership Awards - nominations close 30 November 2006. Do you know someone working to help save the planet from the effects of climate change? The NSW Premier, the Hon Morris Iemma MP, has established annual Awards to recognise the efforts of people and organisations in addressing the challenges of climate change and adapting to its impacts.
Learning for sustainability
Learning for Sustainability 2007-2010 provides the framework for a strategic and comprehensive cross-sectoral approach to environmental education in NSW
October 2006
Draft Lower Hunter Regional Conservation Plan
New national parks and reserves for the Lower Hunter - Stage 1 of the Lower Hunter Regional Conservation Plan will deliver significant additions to the national parks and reserves system in the region.
Bitou bush and boneseed
Bitou bush and boneseed threat abatement plan: the first approved threat abatement plan for a weed species in Australia is now being implemented along the coast of NSW by DEC, the five coastal Catchment Management Authorities, the Department of Lands, numerous coastal councils, community groups and private landholders.
September 2006
EVRI
Environmental valuation reference inventory (EVRI): a Canadian-run resource of over 1,700 international studies providing values, methodologies, techniques and theories on environmental valuation.
Waste avoidance and recovery
NSW Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery Strategy 2006: combines a perfomance report against the recycling and other targets set in 2003 and key programs implemented in NSW during this time.
Waste reduction & purchasing policy
WRAPP Progress Report 2006: State Government Agencies' recycling rates have improved and there has been an increased focus on the purchase of materials with recycled content.
Cultural heritage
Living Places - Aboriginal people's memories of places which they and their ancestors have lived in, worked in and visited, backed up by historical documents, photographs and archaeological records. Aboriginal people's memories of their experiences of settlements across north-eastern New South Wales (NSW) since 1788 provide a picture of what these places were like for the people who lived (and often still live) in them.
City & Country Environment Restoration Program
NSW RiverBank - saving NSW's declining wetlands and river systems
August 2006
POEO (Clean Air) Regulation amendments
Guide to emissions of air impurities from activities & plant - On 1 September 2005, significant amendments to the POEO (Clean Air) Regulation 2002 in relation to activities and the operation of plant and equipment came into effect, replacing the requirements of the Clean Air (Plant and Equipment) Regulation 1997, which was repealed.
Threatened species and the community
A guide for managing community involvement in threatened species recovery - the role of the community - including land managers such as farmers, and active members of the public - is vital in turning the tide in threatened species conservation.
Action for Air 2006
Action for Air 2006 update: The original plan was released in 1998 and its progress reviewed at triennial forums in 2001 and 2004. It provides a current picture of air quality and its management in NSW by drawing on the proceedings of the 2004 Clean Air Forum, as well as advances in air pollution and health research over the past eight years, and developments in state and national policy.
State Plan Draft for Consultation
A new direction for NSW - State Plan Draft for Consultation.
The State Plan will define the goals and outcomes that the Government and community together agree should shape public policy over the decade to come. Input is sought on the draft version of the State Plan.
National Chemicals Management
The proposals aim to provide a more streamlined, transparent and nationally consistent management approach and improve key environmental outcomes in chemicals management.
DEC encourages you to have your say: submissions close Friday 29 September, public consultation forum in Sydney on 31 August 2006.
July 2006
NSW RiverBank Business Plan
NSW RiverBank Business Plan 2006-07 outlines the vision, objectives and expected outputs of RiverBank, and establishes the basic philosophy, processes and business model that is applied. It sets out the specific activities that are being undertaken in the 2006-07 financial year, and specifies the program monitoring, evaluation and reporting required to provide both the Government and the public with a means by which to gauge the program's success.
Environmental compliance
Environmental Compliance Report - Liquid Chemical Storage, Handling and Spill Management: Part C Final Report outlines regulatory changes to NSW facilities resulting from this compliance program.
Sustainability compact
IAG Sustainability Compact commits IAG and the DEC to work together over 4 years to decisively advance ecological sustainability in IAG facilities, operations and supply chain.
June 2006
BioBanking Bill
Guide to the Threatened Species Conservation Amendment (Biodiversity Banking) Bill 2006 - the Bill inserts a new Part 7A in the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 to enable the establishment of a biodiversity banking and offsets scheme (Biobanking Scheme).
Kosciuszko National Park
Kosciuszko National Park - plan of management
Beachwatch partnership program
Beachwatch Partnership Program: State of the Beaches 2004-2005: Ballina; Clarence Valley; Kempsey; Great Lakes; Port tephens; Wyong; Gosford; Eurobodalla; Bega Valley.
Urban Sustainability Program
Urban Sustainability Program - $57M in grant funding - applications close Friday 4 August 2006.
DEC corporate plan
DEC Corporate Plan 2006-2010 - Vision: a healthy environment cared for and enjoyed by the whole community and sustained for future generations.
Whales & dolphins
Approaching whales and dolphins in NSW - new regulation has been introduced to protect marine mammals such as whales and dolphins while allowing people to appreciate them in the wild.
May 2006
BioBanking information sheet
Information sheet - biodiversity certification and biobanking: recent reforms to threatened species legislation have paved the way for two new approaches to threatened species conservation: biodiversity certification and biodiversity banking.
Woodsmoke
Woodsmoke - resources for councils and other local authorities (including smoke abatement notices)
Managing urban stormwater
Managing urban stormwater: harvesting and reuse presents an overview of stormwater harvesting and its potential benefits and limitations. It also provides guidance on the planning and design aspects of stormwater harvesting projects, taking into account statutory and regulatory requirements.
Threatened species
Threatened Species Priorities Action Statement: for public comment from Friday 12 May to Friday 18 August 2006.
Industrial noise
Application notes - NSW industrial noise policy are provided to assist industry and acoustical consultants develop noise impact assessments and apply the provisions of the NSW Industrial Noise Policy (INP), with the aim of reducing processing time.
The application notes cover a number of topics such as:
- applying the urban/industrial interface amenity category
- identifying which of the amenity or intrusive criteria apply
- how to account for operations that occur for only part of the day, evening or night.
POEO Amendment Act 2005
The POEO Amendment Act 2005 commenced on 1 May 2006. See new Powers of authorised officers, Guide to notices and Considering environmental values of water.
April 2006
Threatened species & biodiversity
Vibration
Assessing vibration: a technical guideline presents preferred and maximum vibration values for use in assessing human responses to vibration and provides recommendations for measurement and evaluation techniques.
March 2006
Extended producer responsibility
Extended Producer Responsibility Priority Statement 2005-06
Touring exhibition
Making a Place for Herself: women's experiences of landscapes and national parks is a highly engaging and informative exhibition that is travelling through national park visitor centres including many of the places featured in the exhibition.
Compliance audit program
Compliance Audit Handbook: designed to ensure a consistent approach to audits of an enterprise's compliance with environmental legislation.
'Living Parks' strategy to guide sustainable park visitation
The 'Living Parks' strategy aims to improve both visitor experiences and park conservation.
February 2006
WRAPP
Waste Assessment Training Course for state agencies will assist participants in undertaking waste assessments to contribute to their agency meeting its obligations under the WRAPP, and to develop a sustainable waste reduction program within their office.
Biobanking background paper
Background paper on biodiversity offsets and biodiversity banking - an investigation of market-based instruments to secure long-term biodiversity objectives.
Pesticide fact sheets
New pesticide laws - fact sheets
January 2006
Pests, weeds and other threats - fact sheets
Pests, weeds and other threats - fact sheets: since the colonisation of Australia in 1788, human activities have had a massive impact on the continent's native environments.
GreenGoods
GreenGoods - sustainability in purchasing decisions and procurement systems
Bushfires
Underground petroleum storage
Environmental compliance program
Licence review - liquid chemical storage, handling and spill management
Annual Report