About Environment and Resource Efficiency Plans

About EREP

The Victorian Government has initiated a new, innovative regulatory program to help businesses to reduce water, energy and waste generation. This program is designed to support business efforts to improve the way resources are used and, importantly, save businesses money.

From 1 January 2008 all commercial and industrial sites in Victoria that use more than 100 TJ of energy and/or 120 ML of water in a financial year need to prepare a plan that identifies actions to reduce energy and water use and waste generation.

Businesses that tripped the thresholds in the 06/07 finanical year were required to register with EPA by 31 March 2008, and must prepare a plan by December 2008, then implement actions with a three year or better payback period.

More than 250 sites across Victoria have answered the call to reduce energy, water and waste generation by developing plans to cut resource use.

The public register of sites participating in the EREP program is now available.

The participating sites represent approximately 700 petajoules of energy consumption, equivalent to around 45% of Victoria’s annual energy use, and approximately 300 gigalitres of water consumption which compares with the annual water consumption of around 1.5 million average Victorian households.

EREP is expected to deliver $85 million in net savings for participants over the next 10 years.

The EREP program has a diverse group of industry sectors represented, including manufacturing, shopping centres and sporting facilities, although the majority of sites belong to the manufacturing sector .

More about EREP

EREP resources

EPA is publishing several resources, including guidelines and a tool kit to assist businesses to prepare their EREP.

Go to EREP resources

EREP information workshops

The EREP team held workshops on how to develop an EREP in May and June in both metropolitan and regional Victoria. The workshops built on the information available in the Environment and Resource Efficiency Plans Toolkit and helped participants enhance their skills in identifying resource efficiency opportunities.
View the workshop presentations

Online self assessment and registration system for EREP

Registration has now closed for the first round of the EREP program. Businesses, however can still use the on-line system to assess their energy and water use for a financial year and determine the carbon fo otprint associated with their energy consumption.

Registration for the EREP program is based on resource use in a financial year. Businesses that were under the energy and water use thresholds in 2006/07 may need to reassess their resource usage in subsequent years and, if they use more than 120ML of water or 100TJ of energy, register in the program.

Go to the EREP Self-Assessment and Registration system

Exempting temporary construction activities from the EREP program

Temporary construction activities, that meet the conditions of EPA's Notice of Exemption, are exempt from complying with the EREP Regulations.

EREP Timelines

Businesses that tripped the resource use thresholds in the 2006/07 financial year were required to register for the EREP program by 31 March 2008. Businesses need to submit their EREPs by 31 December 2008.

See the EREP timeline flowchart

EREP frequently asked questions

List of frequently asked questions about the EREP program.

Go to the frequently asked questions

Public consultation on draft EREP Regulations

The EREP Regulations were officially made in December 2007. Prior to finalising the Regulations, EPA released, draft EREP Regulations, a RIS (Regulatory Impact Statement) and draft Guidelines for consultation.

Go to public consultation on the draft Regulations