Reforming Environmental Approvals
Reforming Environmental Approvals
The development industry constantly faces time consuming, expensive and challenging regulatory processes when obtaining environmental approvals. Duplication, uncertainty, inconsistency and protracted assessment timeframes cost projects time and money and have ultimately impacted on housing affordability.
New regulatory reform provides the prospect of change on the horizon.
Under the recently released Interim Review of the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, the Commonwealth has confirmed its intention to enter into a bilateral agreement with Western Australia to streamline environmental approvals.
The expectation is that this will result in an average reduction of six months in decision making timeframes.
With the deferral of a decision by the McGowan Government whether or not to proceed with the Strategic Assessment of Perth and Peel Regions, what does this, combined with these key reform pieces mean in practice? Will it solve the key issues impacting developers and deliver better outcomes for community? Can the revised process assist to solve the looming offset limitations?
Join JBS&G Executive Director Darren Walsh and Tom Hatton, Chair, EPA WA for an interactive discussion and debate on the merits of the proposed reform and the anticipated impact.
Following their opening statements will be a Q&A panel discussion to further explore the challenges and opportunities for WA.
Information and booking details can be found here.