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Corporate Plan 2013–14

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The Environment Protection

Authority (EPA) 2013–14

Corporate Plan identifies our

priority areas for the year

ahead and outlines the key

initiatives we will undertake

to ensure we meet the

goals identified in the EPA

Strategic Plan 2012–15.

This Corporate Plan is the second

to be developed under the

Strategic Plan 2012–15. Our first

Corporate Plan under this new

strategic framework has seen many

achievements, which included:

n Publication of the 2013–14

Annual Compliance Plan setting

out our regulatory approach

and priorities for the next

financial year

n Finalisation of procedures

enabling implementation of

water restriction and prohibition

zones under the Environment

Protection Act 1993, and the

establishment of the first water

prohibition area in Allenby

Gardens/Flinders Park

n Continuing to enhance and

improve accessibility and

transparency of EPA information

by adding to the online

public register, reviewing the

EPA website and increasing

online content

n Continuing implementation of

the new obligations for resource

recovery of waste under the

Environment Protection

(Waste to Resources) Policy 2010

n Publication of a Communications

and Engagement Framework

2012–15 to guide our

communications and

engagement activities over

the next three years.

Over 2012–13 we embarked

on a significant, wide-ranging

organisational change program, to

transform us into a sharper, more

effective and modern regulator.

This review encompassed both the

structural and operational elements

of the agency and resulted in a

new organisational structure being

implemented on 1 July 2013.

The Corporate Plan both advances

our change program and increases

our effectiveness in managing the

environmental harms faced by the

state. These harms include major

point sources of pollution and waste,

site and groundwater contamination,

the interface between industry

and residential dwellings, and

inappropriate and illegal management

of wastes in South Australia.

It also includes a strong focus on

continuing to refine our regulatory

tools and approaches and ensuring

that we have:

n up-to-date, fit-for-purpose

and enforceable licences

n appropriate inspection,

monitoring and reporting

regimes to ensure licence

performance is effectively and

efficiently managed

n ways of addressing specific

environmental pressures through

tailored, prioritised harms

interventions, informed by the

State of Environment Report

2013 information and licence

performance data

n new ways to better service

regional areas of the state.

I am committed to ensuring that the

EPA is a world class environmental

regulator. The EPA Corporate Plan

2013–14, continues to build on

the excellent work we have already

begun, and further supports that

commitment.

Dr Campbell Gemmell

CHIEF EXECUTIVE

ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION

AUTHORITY

FROM THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE

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EPA’s Planning Framework

This diagram reflects the

EPA’s approach to corporate

and strategic planning to

ensure that we robustly

and confidently identify our

pressures, challenges and

priorities and deliver upon

our strategic objectives.

To achieve our vision – A better

environment – protected for all

South Australians, the EPA operates

within the broader government

framework established by the

SA Strategic Plan and the SA

Government Priorities, and works

with stakeholders groups to identify

and address pressures with specific,

efficient and effective interventions.

DELIVERING ON OUR VISION

Environmentalgoals

Outcomes

PandDRs

Strategic Plan(3 years)

Corporate Plan (Annual)

RiskRegister

HarmsRegister

Business Plans (Annual)

Strategies

Environmental partners> NRM Boards

> State, local, national

government agencies

and networks

> Community

SA Government Priorities

South Australia’s Strategic Plan Priorities

EPA Strategic Framework

VisionA better environment

– protected for all South Australians

Challenges Identified through> State of the

Environment reporting

> Environmental trends and pressures

Perform

ance Measurem

ent Framew

ork

Cha

nge

Pro

gram

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ENVIRONMENTAL PRESSURES

Our 2013–14 Corporate Plan

reflects our actions to manage the

environmental pressures we face

in working towards achieving our

longer term environmental goals.

These pressures include:

1. major point sources of pollution

and waste

2. South Australia’s legacy issues,

particularly site and groundwater

contamination and the interface

of industry and residential

dwellings

3. increasing urban and

infrastructure development

and renewal

4. inappropriate or illegal

management of wastes and

resource recovery

5. broader issues of statewide

significance, eg management

of the River Murray, potential

impacts of renewable energy,

and impacts of climate change

6. expansion of mining in South

Australia and its associated

infrastructure.

EPA STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK

Longer term – environmental

goals

The EPA’s environmental goals have

a long time horizon, describing what

we ultimately seek to achieve for

South Australia’s environment. These

goals are:

1 Good quality land

Protect land from the adverse

impacts of pollution and waste

by addressing historical site

contamination, advising and

regulating industry and promoting

sustainable waste management

(through the waste hierarchy).

2 Good quality water

Protect the quality of surface,

ground, coastal and marine waters

from pollution by monitoring water

quality, advising and regulating

industry and supporting water

quality improvement projects.

3 Good quality air

Protect air quality from atmospheric

pollutants by monitoring air quality,

including odour, advising and

regulating industry and supporting

community based air quality

improvement initiatives.

4 Protection from radiation

Protect the environment and

the community from health risks

associated with ionising and non

ionising radiation by advising and

regulating sites, mines, equipment

and users of radiation.

5 Protection from noise

Protect the community from

exposure to unacceptable noise levels

by advising and regulating industry

and supporting local government

and police with community based

noise management.

Short to medium term –

strategies, outcomes and

initiatives

This year’s plan presents the

EPA’s approach to achieving our

strategic priorities by describing the

components that we will use to

assess our progress:

n the outcomes we are working

toward over 2012–2015

n key initiatives for the current

financial year

n the key targets that we will use

to check that we are on track to

achieving our outcomes.

These initiatives and targets will form

the basis of our reporting, including

half-year and end-of-year reports to

the EPA Board.

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Major point source pollution

Legacy site contamination issues

Increased urban and infrastructure development

Illegal waste management

Expansion of mining

Broader statewide issues (eg management of the River Murray, potential impacts of renewable energy, and impacts of climate change)

n Between 2006 and 2011 South

Australia’s population increased

by about 70,000 – the largest

increase since the early 1970s

n Number of residential dwellings

increased more rapidly than

population growth

n Knowledge and remediation of

site contamination has increased

n Total waste generated has

increased by 40% to 3,250 kg

per person (about 75% of this is

recycled)

n Water quality in rivers and

streams has generally improved

as a result of increased rainfall

n Quality of treated water

released into coastal waters has

improved

n Air quality remains good in

terms of national standards,

with only some exceptions in

specific locations

n Number of licences to handle

radioactive substances and

operate radioactive apparatus

has increased

n Noise complaints increased by

about 20% from 2006 to 2011

n An increase in mining exports

has led to increased greenhouse

gas emissions and use of water

and energy

State of the Environment South

Australia 2013 Environment

Protection Authority

The Pressure-State-Response model from Rapport, D. and Friend, A. (1979) Towards a comprehensive framework for environmental statistics: a

stress-response approach, Statistics Canada, Ottawa.

n Implement electronic

waste tracking

n Pursue licence compliance,

especially regarding waste

recovery

n Finalise water quality policy

n Release marine ecosystem

report cards

n Pursue licence compliance

n Publish Framework for

Air Quality

n Assess Nyrstar proposal

for Port Pirie plant

transformation

n Pursue licence compliance

Good quality

land

Good quality water

Good quality

air

Protection from

radiation

Protection from noise

STATE AND IMPACT

Observable changes in the

environment

RESPONSE

Actions to manage the problem

PRESSURE

Resulting from

impacts of human

activity

n Enhance take-up of

national standards

n Finalise third party testing

of X-ray machines

n Pursue licence compliance

n Waterloo Wind Farm study

ENVIRONMENTAL PRESSURES, TRENDS AND NEW INITIATIVES 2013–14

Environmental goals

2013–14 focus areas

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ROBUST REGULATION – promote compliance and enforce environmental law

OUR GOAL CORPORATE INITIATIVES 2013–14 OUTCOMES TO 2015

As a respected and effective

advisor and regulator the EPA will

employ best practice regulatory

principles and tools, and robust

processes to:

n Support and enable those

willing to comply or go

beyond compliance

n Tackle the important issues

though taking a proportionate,

risk and evidence-based

approach

n Withstand challenges

n Be decisive and timely in

taking strong regulatory action

when needed

n Implement the EPA 2013–14

Compliance Plan

n Set targets for the ongoing

management of Lake Bonney

n Contribute to effective closure of

Dry Creek salt-fields

n Finalise the four-year program to

implement third party testing of

X-ray machines

n Implement waste reforms in

consultation with the waste

industry reference group

including implementing the

online waste tracking system

n Streamline the aquaculture

assessment process

n Best regulatory practice toolkit

deployed

n Appropriate and effective

management of wastes and

resources

n Annual compliance plans

established

n Harms problem-solving

approach adopted and

integrated

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SOUND SCIENCE – science-based policy that informs action

OUR GOAL CORPORATE INITIATIVES 2013–14 OUTCOMES TO 2015

To ensure our activities and

decisions are appropriate and

evidence-based, sound science will

be applied to:

n Monitor and evaluate the

condition of the environment

n Assess potential environmental

impacts to inform

development assessment,

licensing and compliance

n Support legislation, policy,

planning and management

measures to mitigate

environmental impacts

n Finalise and launch the 2013

State of the Environment

Report

n Release the SA Government

statement document Framework

for Air Quality for consultation

n Finalise the review of the Water

Quality Policy

n Prepare the Air Quality Policy

for public consultation

n Publish Aquatic Ecosystem

Condition Report Cards for

marine and inland surface

waters

n Complete a study into the

noise levels from the Waterloo

Wind Farm

n Assess Nyrstar proposal for

Port Pirie

n EPA has appropriate scientific

resource capacity

n Water quality of all types of

water bodies reported

n Science data used to assess

and manage harms

n Effective knowledge

management to support

decision making

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STRATEGIC INFLUENCE, PARTNERSHIPS AND ENGAGEMENT – working with others to influence the future

OUR GOAL CORPORATE INITIATIVES 2013–14 OUTCOMES TO 2015

To maximise our strategic

influence through working

in partnership with, and

engaging, stakeholders and

the community by:

n Strategically partnering with

other organisations, industry

and community

n Expanding opportunities for

engagement across industry,

community and government

n Making environmental

information more accessible

and easier to understand

n Finalise EPA’s submission into

the State Planning Review

n Implement recommendations

from the EPA Planning Review

Committee

n Implement the EPA

Communications and

Engagement Framework

n Implement the first phase of

an improved approach to a

regional presence

n Improve electronic access to

the EPA Public Register

n South Australian Air Quality

programs aligned with

national approaches

n Local environmental nuisance

issues effectively managed

n EPA influence and

partnerships result in

demonstrably better

environmental outcomes

n Relationships with key

stakeholders improved

n Increased community trust

and confidence in the EPA

n Improved community access

to EPA information

n Better engagement with

regional communities

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ADAPTIVE AND HIGH PERFORMING ORGANISATION – being the best we can

OUR GOAL CORPORATE INITIATIVES 2013–14 OUTCOMES TO 2015

To be a well-run and high-

performing organisation, this is

achieved through making the best

use of available resources and by:

n Deploying strong leadership

and building management

capacity

n Great internal and external

communication

n Developing systems capability

and maximising benefits from

integrated functioning

n Recruiting, supporting and

retaining skilled, focused,

effective staff

n Commence structured

implementation of the High

Performance Framework

n Implement Stage 2 actions of

the EPA Change Program

n Implement the Licensing

Administration Modernisation

Project (LAMP)

n Embed a project management

approach into EPA operations

n Review and enhance our

workplace health and safety

systems and processes

n Key organisational systems

improved and integrated

to support effective

organisational functioning

n Current and future staff

training needs identified

and prioritised in a strategic

workforce development plan

n Nationally accredited

skills development for all

authorised officers

n Change agenda reforms

implemented

n Conforming Workplace

Health and Safety infill system

achieved and maintained and

that system protecting EPA

staff, contractors and visitors

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20122015

StrategicPlan

FURTHER INFORMAT IONTo find out more about how the EPA is contributing

to a better environment visit www.epa.sa.gov.au

EPA Communications and Engagement Framework 2013–15Our public statement of

the role communications

and engagement play in

supporting the delivery of

EPA strategic priorities

State of the Environment Report 2013The sixth report for

South Australia reports

the condition of the

state’s environment and

the key environmental

challenges to be faced

Annual Compliance Plan 2013–14As a respected and

effective advisor and

regulator, the EPA has

published its regulatory

approach and set out

its annual compliance

objectives and activities

EPA Strategic Plan 2012–15Sets the strategic direction and framework

for the EPA over a three-year period and

supports the objectives and targets of

South Australia’s Strategic Plan and the SA

Government’s seven strategic priorities

Annual Report 2012–13EPA performance and

achievements are reported

annually against strategic

priorities of the EPA and

South Australian Government

State of the environment

South Australia

Environment Protection Authority

Environment Protection Authority

Environment Protection Authority Annual Report 1 July 2012 to 30 June 2013

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Communications and Engagement Framework 2013–15

State of the Environment Report

Communications and Engagement Framework

Annual Report

Strategic Plan

Corporate Plan

Annual Compliance Plan

Environment Protection Authority

Annual Compliance Plan 2013–14

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For general information please contact:

Environment Protection Authority

GPO Box 2607

Adelaide SA 5001

Telephone: (08) 8204 2004

Facsimile: (08) 8124 4670

Freecall (country): 1800 623 445

Website: www.epa.sa.gov.au

Email: epainfo@epa.sa.gov.au