EPA investigators go statewide

A successful pilot project matching EPA Victoria officers with 23 councils is expanding, with all 79 municipalities to have their own local investigators.

Moorabool Shire Council, along with councils including those in Melton, Ballarat, and Wyndham, were part of the pilot program that commenced in 2017, and expanded from 13 councils to 23 in 2019.

The latest expansion will pair Officers for the Protection of the Local Environment (OPLEs) with every council in Victoria.

OPLEs handle smaller-scale pollution issues in communities such as dust, odour, noise and localised illegal dumping. The program also focuses on preventative work, reducing illegal chemical and waste stockpiling.

OPLEs addressed more than 1,600 reports between 2018 and 2020. The average time taken to complete an investigation and resolve the incident dropped from 65 days to 22, and members of the public who reported incidents were three times more likely to be satisfied with the result.

EPA CEO Lee Miezis said the benefits of the program were clear, and the program showed what can be achieved through a partnership approach to environmental protection.

“The program strengthens relationships between EPA and councils, giving faster responses, increased accountability and better outcomes for community, industry and the environment,” Mr Miezis said.

Municipal Association of Victoria President, Cr David Clark, has welcomed the expansion of the OPLE project.

“This partnership of EPA and Councils has already proved its value as a pilot project, and making it an ongoing service that covers the entire state will benefit communities and the environment across Victoria,” Cr Clark said.

Councils participating in the pilot since 2017 have reported faster response times to pollution reports and increased collaboration, information sharing and expertise.

An independent assessor’s report in 2020 found the OPLE pilot was achieving improved responses to both known and newly reported pollution, improved industry compliance with the Environment Protection Act, more preventative measures, and improved local capability to deal with environmental issues.

“Communities getting the services of an OPLE for the first time will be pleased to hear that the project gets real results for residents by resolving issues that are most likely to affect liveability in their towns and suburbs,” he said.

The OPLEs are Authorised Officers, who have powers under the Environment Protection Act 2017 to issue legally enforceable notices and fines, or escalate serious offences for court action or larger sanctions.

For more information on the OPLE project, and examples of the OPLEs’ achievements, head to www.epa.vic.gov.au/about-epa/what-we-do/compliance-and-enforcement/local-officers.