Licences
Download an application form for a licence or required additional information.
EPA licences are required for all scheduled premises, unless the premises is exempted in the regulations. Licences cover the actual operation of the site and set operating, waste discharge limits, and waste acceptance conditions as appropriate. The Environment Protection Act 1970 specifies penalties for breach of licence conditions, or for operating a site without a licence.
A licence may only be held by one or more legal entities:
- a person
- a company
- a statutory corporation
- a municipal council.
This page has information about these topics:
Licence subsequent to works approval
Licence amendment
Licence transfer
Licence surrender and revocation
Annual licence fees
Licence conditions
Public access to licences
Licence subsequent to works approval
Where a works approval has been obtained, and the occupier believes that the works have been completed in accordance with that works approval, an application for licence (or for licence amendment if there is an existing licence for the premises) may be made to EPA.
There is no application fee for this type of application, however the licence application form must be filled in and submitted.
EPA will inspect the works, and if they are found to comply with the conditions of the works approval, will issue the new or amended licence.
Licence amendment
EPA can amend licence conditions by issuing a notice of amendment.
A licence holder can apply to EPA to have any condition(s) of a licence amended by filling in the licence application form, and submitting supporting information to EPA. EPA will process applications for licence amendment within 60 days of receiving a complete application.
The fee for amendment, when requested by the licence holder, is the lower of 10 per cent of the current annual licence fee or 85 fee units ($993.70). Please note the current dollar value of a fee unit is $11.69
Licence transfer
Where a site changes ownership, or the legal name of the licence holder changes, an application for licence transfer must be made. This should be done within 30 days of the site changing hands.
The fee to transfer a licence is the lower of 10 per cent of the current annual licence fee or 35 fee units ($409.20). Please note the current dollar value of a fee unit is $11.69.
Licence surrender and revocation
Where a licence holder believes that the site is no longer being operated in a manner that requires an EPA licence (that is the scheduled activity has ceased), an application for licence surrender may be made. This may result in a refund of the unused portion of the current annual fee.
The Environment Protection Act contains provisions for EPA to suspend or revoke a licence under certain conditions.
Annual licence fees
An annual fee is payable for the duration of the licence. The amount of this fee depends on the type of operation and the volume and quality of any discharge to the environment.
Licence fees are set out in the Environment Protection (Fees) Regulations 2001.
Licence conditions
Licences contain conditions which aim to control the operation of the premises in order to ensure that there is no adverse effect on the environment. The conditions vary depending on the type of operation but generally include:
- limits on the discharge of various substances
- monitoring requirements
- housekeeping conditions
- reporting of incidents and monitoring data.
Public access to licences
EPA licences and approvals are public documents, and copies may be purchased by any person on payment of a fee, currently $8. Contact the EPA Information Centre for further details.