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 already answered the call to reduce energy, water and waste generation by developing plans to cut resource use. These sites do not need to re-register in the program.

Sites participating in the EREP program (listed in the public register ) use approximately 700 petajoules of energy and 300 gigalitres of water a year. This is the equivalent to around 45% of Victoria’s annual energy use, and the annual water consumption of around 1.5 million average Victorian households.
 
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

Self assessing, registering and submitting an EREP

Registration is now open for sites that used more than 100 TJ of energy and/or 120 ML  in the 2007/08 financial year, for a second round of the EREP program. Businesses that tripped the 2007/08 resource use thresholds at their sites need to register for the program by 30 September 2008

Companies who are unsure if they trip the program thresholds can use the anonomyous self-assessment calculator and then proceed to register, if required.

Sites that registered in the first round (March 2008) are not required to re-register in the EREP program.  These companies must submit an Action Plan to EPA Victoria by 31 December 2008.

Go to the self-assessment, registration or EREP submission

EREP resources

EPA has published several resources, including guidelines and a toolkit 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

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.

Businesses that trip the thresholds in 2007/08 must register by 30 September 2008 and submit their EREPs by 30 June 2009.

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